In the farewell of Paulo Skaf as president of Fiesp (Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo), a position he has held for 17 years, the inflatable duck of the campaign against high taxes and the return of the CPMF in 2015 was celebrated as a symbol of conquest, which helped to remove Dilma Rousseff from power.
During the ceremony, which lasted almost two hours this Thursday (9), images of the duck on Avenida Paulista and people with replicas protesting the then president’s impeachment, in 2016, were broadcast on a screen in the entity’s theater, which was crowded with industrialists.
“The duck was one of the most emblematic actions”, said the narrator of the video, citing Dilma’s impeachment and other demands of the federation, such as the reduction of basic food basket taxes, the pension reform, the exclusion of ICMS from the PIS calculation and Cofins.
Fiesp was a meeting point for pro-impeachment protesters when it created the “No Vou Pay o Pato” campaign. An inflatable duck was in front of the institution’s headquarters at the time.
At the end of the ceremony, Skaf, who runs the organization until December 31, congratulated his successor Josué Gomes da Silva.
President of Coteminas, Josué is the son of José Alencar, who was vice-president in the two terms of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), from 2003 to 2010, who died in 2011 due to cancer. His candidacy was supported by Skaf.
Joshua avoided answering questions from the press. In a single speech, he defended a better measurement of GDP to show the “strength of the industry”, which has accumulated five months of contraction.
“The industry is enormously important because it is the sector that has the greatest multiplier in the economy, it is the sector that is really capable of generating innovation, it is very resistant and very strong,” he stated. “It’s changing. Today, the manufacturing industry doesn’t just produce products, it’s a combination of products and services. The GDP measurement may have to be improved to show the industry’s true strength.”
Skaf’s farewell ceremony approached a show featuring a tenor, Olympic athletes and personalities who participated in the trajectory told by a hidden narrator. A few minutes were devoted to the political-economic disputes of his administration.
Most of the time, a retrospective video showed marks of the Skaf management linked to education, entrepreneurship and the stimulation of sport.
Stories of medal winner students, the modernization of Sesi and laboratories, advances in robotics and investment in culture were broadcast, with free shows in São Paulo. Former students, now entrepreneurs, appeared thanking Paulo Skaf.
When passing the baton to Joshua, Skaf said he would run his own business, but that he would not rule out a candidacy in the 2022 elections. He told journalists that if he runs, it will be for the Senate.
“I think that right now, if I’m a candidate and have the support of the population, as a senator I can make a greater contribution to the country than as governor.”
Elections
Joshua was elected on a single ticket in July this year after a tumultuous race behind the scenes. Another ticket, headed by businessman José Ricardo Roriz Coelho, president of Abiplast (Brazilian Plastic Industry Association), tried to run, but was unable to formalize the candidacy in time.
The case ended up in court. In September, Roriz’s plate was challenged and he registered a ticket for the presidency of Ciesp (Center for Industries of the State of São Paulo), but was also defeated by Rafael Cervone Netto, from the textile area, who takes over in January.
In February, Skaf’s opponents claimed that more than 20 members were removed from directorship and board positions. arbitrarily.
At the time, Fiesp said the renewal is “natural as the appointments are for a period of one year”.
Leading the institution since 2004, Skaf was the target of criticism from the business community, who considered his actions more political than directed at the industrial sector.
He was twice a candidate for the government of São Paulo, the last in 2018, by the MDB.
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