Business entities expect less talk in the 2nd round

Business associations heard by the Sheet they expect more government plans and less talk in the second round of Brazil’s presidential elections.

“The first round had a lot of futile debate”, says civil engineer João Carlos Martins, president of the CBIC (Brazilian Chamber of the Construction Industry). “We hope that this second stage will be marked by the effective demonstration of the proposals, in fundamental issues such as the guarantee of efficient health and education, the development of the economy, with the inclusion of the poorest in the consumer market.”

As a priority, Martins highlights government investments. “Construction comes in the wake of this investment, which depends on political will,” he says. “With the generation of jobs and income, we will guarantee the stability of the economy.”

For Rodrigo Marinheiro, director of institutional and governmental relations at Apas (Associação Paulista de Supermercados), a polarized election was already expected in the State of São Paulo, as a reflection of the national scenario.

But, according to him, in addition to the ideological dispute, it is urgent to deepen the discussion on the tax regime, food waste and the fight against “collection inspection” in the supermarket sector.

“These are issues that drain the sector’s ability to generate even more jobs for young people to enter the job market, and even increase food prices for the entire population,” he said.

Abras (Brazilian Association of Supermarkets) said, in a note, that “the results of the polls show a polarized country”, but that democracy is the “only way” for growth. “May the second round bring a productive, high-level debate of ideas, so that at the end of the electoral process the country is united around a consistent project to promote the sustainable development of Brazil.”

In the opinion of Synesio Batista, president of Abrinq (Brazilian Association of Toy Manufacturers), there is a need to reinvent the country for a market economy that does not depend so much on raw materials, inputs and products from abroad.

“It’s time to focus more on the real world, talking to the shop floor, and less on abstract ideas,” he said.

Feninfra (National Federation of Call Center, Installation and Maintenance of Telecommunications and IT Network Infrastructure) said, in a note, that it expects support from the next government to overcome the challenges of the telecommunications sector, “essential for the development of numerous segments of the economy and a great generator of innovation, jobs and investments”.

Judge Artur Marques, president of Afpesp (Association of Public Employees of the State of São Paulo), with 240 thousand members, highlighted that the election results, once again, showed that the technology of electronic voting machines is effective: “Contrary to the considered, the results are auditable and absolutely safe. To date, there has not been any plausible and concrete reason to question them”.