On the Brazilian political chessboard, few pieces are more important than Gilberto Kassab, founder and de facto owner of the Social Democratic Party (PSD).
Less than two decades ago, Mr. Kassab was a marginal figure in Brazilian politics, until he came from nowhere to become mayor of São Paulo, Latin America’s biggest city, in 2006. And while he remains far from the spotlight, Mr. Kassab has turned himself into something of a political chess master with the uncanny ability to build alliances and leverage his position to stay close to power — but far from public scrutiny.
Created less than ten years ago as a party that self-defines as being “neither on the left, the right, or in the center,” Mr. Kassab’s PSD is poised to form one of the biggest House benches after the 2022 elections, potentially making the party among Brazil’s most important.
At the same time, Mr. Kassab seems keen to dip his toes into the presidential race, as well. After floating the always remote possibility of Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco running for the top job, he has now managed to lure Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite...
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