Bolsonaro bans debate, and companies need a new role in elections, says institute leader

The debate on proposals in the elections is prohibited by the “permanent radicalization” promoted by President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), in the assessment of sociologist Caio Magri, 61, director-president of Ethos, an institute that brings together 454 companies, including Natura, Grupo Pão de Sugar, Carrefour and Renner.

Magri defends the segment’s participation in the electoral process, in line with a booklet on the social responsibility of the private sector in the election, launched this week by the entity that is pro-sustainable development, human rights and democracy.

For the leader, action should be around causes, not candidates. “Companies can defend public policy platforms that are in tune with what they are looking for,” he tells Sheet.

Brands and companies that have social programs for diversity, social inclusion, reduction of impacts on territories and control of environmental damage “need public policies that follow in this direction”, says Magri.

The manual indicates that a safe way for companies during the electoral process “is to commit to transversal agendas or collective actions”, avoiding binding candidates and parties.

The text also suggests care not to embarrass employees and respect the right to free political expression. It also encourages actions so that employees are encouraged to learn about government plans of applicants, follow debates and vote.

On the other hand, an Ethos survey of associates showed that the vast majority see reputational risks with involvement in elections. The entity, which claims to house about half of the 200 largest companies in Brazil, has been publishing documents with guidelines for the claims since 2002.

Magri describes the situation of the business environment in the Brazilian electoral process as a vacuum since the ban on private donations to campaigns in 2015. The ban, in the wake of Operation Lava Jato and the corruption and slush fund scandals, was supported by Ethos.

“The relationship was shady, very little transparent, especially in the most recent periods of the presidential elections. Companies had a huge participation and interference with financing. And that, in terms of reputation, was not cool for anyone”, says the president. of the organization, which has among its members investigated companies, such as JBS, Novonor (formerly Odebrecht) and Braskem.

The “memory of that time” when they distributed money needs to give way to “a new culture”, in which companies also assume the role of social organizations that can help disseminate practices such as sustainability. “Because otherwise there is no business, there is no prosperity”, says the sociologist.

His reasoning is that leading entrepreneurs and workers to “think when making choices” can benefit the companies themselves, if the issues of interest to them are on the agenda of institutional policy. The idea is for this work to be part of the strategic planning.

The manual recommends control over donations from individuals at the top or who represent the companies. The assessment is that very high contributions end up exposing the company. The tip is to guide senior management to avoid donating, but not prohibit the gesture.

Magri says that, in addition to the legislative vacuum for private participation in financing —replaced by electoral and party funds, with public money, and donations from individuals, still timid—, there was a process of radicalization with the advent of Bolsonarism.

“We have business characters, and companies somehow mixing with them, assuming political-party positions. You immediately remember which companies and people have acted in this perspective”, he continues, confirming that he sees the Bolsonarista Luciano Hang, from Havan stores, as a representative of that group.

“What is the role now? Is this what Luciano Hang plays? Or is the role another one, is it taking on causes and collectively building around them a perspective of sustainable development for the country?”, he reflects.

Magri admits it is difficult for companies to position themselves at a time when boycott uprisings proliferate, amid accusations such as that “whoever seals does not profit”. He considers that reactions of this type are due to the increase in the tools of social control over business activities.

“Companies have something to say. But the elections are not being debated based on proposals and programs. This is part of the totalitarian and authoritarian strategy that the federal government has today and the participation of candidate Jair Bolsonaro”, he says.

“The debate is interdicted by the permanent radicalization, the attack on the polls, on democracy, on the Constitution, carried out by President Jair Bolsonaro”, he adds.

The leader, who personally declares his vote for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), joined the then president’s special adviser in 2003, under the coordination of Oded Grajew, who is president emeritus of Ethos and creator of the World Social Forum.

“There are already conversation bridges about this scenario [vitória de Lula], because cautious entrepreneurs have looked at reality. My expectation, and there are some signs of this, is that there is the possibility of having a broad dialogue, a discussion about the relationship between the State and the private sector”, he says.

Magri does not rule out the chance of Ethos discussing support for a competitor in the race to the Plateau. What has already been deliberated by the institute — and without internal resistance, according to the leader — was the adhesion to the manifesto in defense of democracy dubbed the “businessmen’s letter”.

For him, the act of August 11 in favor of the Electoral Justice and the Constitution was an important step against Bolsonaro’s coup, but surveillance must continue.

“We live and continue to live a period of cowardice, of staying under the table, of not looking at what is happening or making a contribution within the constitutional principles, of the search for well-being for all”, he evaluates.

“There [na Faculdade de Direito da USP] there was the beginning of a collective and broad stance on causes. The scenario is very difficult, but the great agendas can mobilize an important alliance that needs to be formed in Brazilian society.”

Magri understands that the financial gain of a company is harmful if, throughout Brazil, there is an increase in social inequality, a devaluation of the minimum wage and the precariousness of programs such as Auxílio Brasil.

“How can anyone say they’ve gotten better? [o ambiente econômico]? It’s incredible”, he continues. And the Minister of Economy pins: “One of the critical effects of Paulo Guedes liberalism is to dismantle, dismantle and deactivate the inspection, command and control systems in the issues of deforestation, degrading work, racism.” .

“Part of the market thinks this is great, but others increasingly understand the importance of reducing society’s income inequality so that their business can grow. It’s a mathematical question.”