Who is Daniella Marques, chosen by Bolsonaro to preside over Caixa

Chosen by President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) to replace Pedro Guimarães in charge of Caixa, Daniella Marques is the most trusted person of Minister Paulo Guedes (Economy), with whom he worked in the financial market before joining the current government.

The two embarked on Bolsonaro’s project together during the campaign, in 2018, and took office on the first day of the current administration.

As head of the Special Advisory for Strategic Affairs at the Ministry of Economy, Marques played an intense role behind the scenes of political negotiations, a role he continued to exercise, albeit informally, after taking over in February this year as the Special Secretariat for Productivity, Employment and Competitiveness. — a position he holds to this day.

Guedes’ right-hand man, the secretary started to represent the Minister of Economy in conversations with the Chamber and Senate summits, since when the Houses were presided over by Rodrigo Maia (PSDB-RJ) and Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP), respectively. .

The proximity to the political circle remained in the administration of Arthur Lira (PP-AL) in the Chamber and Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG) in the Senate.

She acted in the negotiation of crucial proposals for the Economy, such as the Social Security reform and the PEC (proposed amendment to the Constitution) of the Precatórios, which postponed the payment of judicial debts and opened space in the Budget for the expansion of social policies in an election year.

On the other hand, the ministry failed to implement other priority agendas, such as tax and administrative reforms.

Marques’ involvement in the joints was direct and active. She was often seen in the center of the Chamber or Senate plenary, an environment usually restricted to parliamentarians and their advisors, talking about controversial points or trying to defuse some bomb in the midst of votes on economic proposals.

A member of the government says that the secretary “has always been the person of Minister Paulo Guedes”.

Colleagues describe her as a dedicated, hardworking professional who works for hours on end to ensure the fulfillment of the “missions” given by the minister and President Bolsonaro, with whom she also became a direct interlocutor, frequenting the Planalto Palace.

The performance in the role of political organizer was so highly evaluated by Guedes that the head of the economic team came to work for the appointment of his assistant as chief minister of the Secretariat of Government, according to three sources told to Sheet.

The sewing, however, was not successful and faced resistance from the political and military wings of the government, which had their quarrels with the economic wing at different times. At the time, the portfolio was commanded by Luiz Eduardo Ramos, general of the Army reserve.

At the Ministry of Economy, Marques’ direct and dynamic style sometimes causes some annoyance in the technicians for what they describe as an overruling in negotiations. The points were not always fully aligned internally when the secretary closed “like a tractor” the ongoing negotiations. It was left for the technical staff to then trim the edges.

Parliamentarians, in turn, viewed with reservations the attitude of Guedes’ ally of often delegating to Congress certain guidelines that were expected from the government.

Her fierce style earned her a controversial episode in 2019, when she was taken to the headquarters of the Legislative Police after being accused of assault by deputy Maria do Rosário (PT-RS). Pension reform had just begun to pass through Congress.

The then advisor went to defend Guedes after the minister’s argument with deputy Zeca Dirceu (PT-PR), who said that the head of the Economy was a “tiger” with retirees and “tchutchuca” with bankers. Guedes reacted by saying “tchutchuca is the mother, it’s the grandmother”, and the confusion spread. The episode ended with no record of occurrence.

On the other hand, even Marques’ critics emphasize the secretary’s commitment to the priority agendas of Minister Paulo Guedes as a quality.

One of the sources heard by the report says that Marques’ management style could be compared to that of Margaret Thatcher – a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and who is seen as an icon for defenders of the ideology. liberal, such as the secretary.

The ability to form good teams, with competent coaches, is also listed as one of his qualities.

Despite the status of articulator within the government and the good relationship with ministers and leaders in Congress, the presidency of Caixa should formally be Marques’ first position at the top level of the government.

This recognition had even been sought after by the secretary, according to reports from different people interviewed by the report.

In addition to being defended by Guedes as a person accredited to take over the Government Secretariat, Marques made herself available to take over the BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development) in place of Joaquim Levy, who resigned in June 2019 after being targeted by Bolsonaro’s criticism. The nomination, however, ended up going to Gustavo Montezano.

In recent months, the secretary’s name has also been quoted to take over the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, in case the president decides to go ahead with the decision to recreate it.

In March, Marques started to lead the “Brasil Pra Elas” program, an initiative aimed at female entrepreneurship. The action was launched on Women’s Day, as Bolsonaro’s allies identify female rejection as an obstacle to his re-election.

Graduated in Business Administration from PUC (Pontifical Catholic University) of Rio de Janeiro and an MBA in Finance from IBMEC/RJ, she worked for 20 years in the financial market, in the area of ​​independent management of investment funds. She was also a founding partner and director of investment funds before joining the government.