Gilberto Kassab (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒiwˈbɛʁtu kaˈsab(i)]; born 12 August 1960) is a Brazilian politician and former mayor of São Paulo. His term ended in 2012. A civil engineer and economist, one of the most famous Brazilians of Syrian descent, Kassab took over from José Serra, after Serra decided to run for governor of São Paulo.[1]

Gilberto Kassab
Kassab in 2023
State Secretary of Government of São Paulo
Assumed office
1 January 2023
GovernorTarcísio de Freitas
Preceded byMarcos Penido
Minister of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications
In office
12 May 2016 – 31 December 2018
PresidentMichel Temer
Preceded byCelso Pansera
Succeeded byMarcos Pontes
Minister of Cities
In office
1 January 2015 – 15 April 2016
PresidentDilma Rousseff
Preceded byGilberto Occhi
Succeeded byInês da Silva Magalhães
Mayor of São Paulo
In office
31 March 2006 – 31 December 2012
Vice MayorAlda Marco Antônio
Preceded byJosé Serra
Succeeded byFernando Haddad
Vice Mayor of São Paulo
In office
1 January 2005 – 31 March 2006
MayorHélio Bicudo
Preceded byJosé Serra
Succeeded byAlda Marco Antônio
Federal Deputy
In office
1 February 1999 – 31 December 2004
ConstituencySão Paulo
State Deputy
In office
15 March 1995 – 1 February 1999
ConstituencySão Paulo
Councillor
In office
1 January 1993 – 15 March 1995
ConstituencySão Paulo
Personal details
Born (1960-08-12) 12 August 1960 (age 63)
São Paulo, Brazil
Political partyPSD (2011–present)
Other political
affiliations
  • PL (1989–95)
  • PFL (1995–2007)
  • DEM (2007–11)
Alma mater
Websitegilbertokassab.com.br
Nicknames
  • Chefe Turco ("Turkish boss")
  • Kibbeh

He belongs to the Syrian community of São Paulo, and is a member of the Partido Social Democrático (PSD). He is mentioned in 2017 among the beneficiaries of bribes from the multinational JBS.[citation needed]

Political career edit

  • 1993–1994: Councillor of São Paulo
  • 1995–1999: State Deputy of São Paulo
  • 1999–2004: Federal Deputy (resigned to run as vice mayor of São Paulo alongside José Serra)
  • 2005–2006: Vice Mayor of São Paulo
  • 2006–2013: Mayor of São Paulo (re-elected on 26 Oct 2008 for a four-year term)[1]

Administration edit

The advertising industry criticized the city of São Paulo administration for the Cidade Limpa law, which prohibits all forms of external media and visual pollution such as billboards. Ad companies tried to keep the billboards in the streets with injunctions, but the supreme court determined the law to be constitutional. At any rate, support for the initiative from the public continues to be widespread.

Appearance in The Greatest Movie Ever Sold edit

Mayor Kassab appeared at length in the Morgan Spurlock 2011 documentary The Greatest Movie Ever Sold talking about the decision of the City Council to ban advertising in the city.

2022 presidential bid edit

In July 2021, Kassab announced that he would support Rodrigo Pacheco in the 2022 presidential election.[2]

Car Wash Operation edit

The biggest implicated company, Odebrecht kept an entire department to coordinate the payment of bribe to politicians. In the Car Wash Operation, officers seized several electronic spreadsheets linking the payments to nicknames. Every corrupt politician received a nickname based on physical characteristics, public trajectory, personal infos, owned cars/boats, origin place or generic preferences. Gilberto Kassab's nickname was 'Chefe Turco' and 'Kibe', portuguese form of 'Turkish Boss' and 'Kibbeh', respectively, alusing his Middle East ancestry.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Gilberto Kassab" (in Portuguese). UOL Notícias. 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  2. ^ "Kassab sees 'ammunition' for impeachment and supports 'Pacheco's profile' for 2022" (in Portuguese). Sao Paulo. Noticias UOL. 4 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Apelidos de políticos na Odebrecht: quem é quem". G1. 16 April 2017.

External links edit

Political offices
Preceded by
Hélio Bicudo
Vice Mayor of São Paulo
2005–06
Vacant
Title next held by
Alda Marco Antônio
Preceded by Mayor of São Paulo
2006–13
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Gilberto Occhi
Minister of Cities
2015–16
Succeeded by
Inês Magalhães
Preceded by
Celso Pandera
as Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations
Minister of Science, Technology, Innovations
and Communications

2016–19
Succeeded by
Preceded byas Minister of Communications