In the business world, few managers and founders who dare publicly define oneself from a political point of view. The majority opts for discretion, avoiding commenting on ideologies, parties or even people they voted for in an election, aware that … Any positioning can generate controversy or harm the image of your companies. However, Borja Vazquez seems to break this trend.
This Sevillian businessman, creator of the fashion brand “Scalpers”, a company with a turnover of around 220 million euros per year, surprised the talk openly about politics and your vote in the last election. He did so during an interview on the Ac2ality podcast, where he reflected on the role of businessmen and politicians. “We are getting out of control over concessions on what people are asking for. Things don’t work like that,” he first declared about the situation our country is going through.
Borja Vázquez (Scalpers) talks about politics and entrepreneurship in Spain
Against all odds, Vázquez answered the question of who he voted for in the last election. “To the People’s Party» He declared, while specifying that, in view of the next elections, “I have doubts”. Regarding these issues, the Sevillian businessman also said: “I cannot give an opinion (on the policies). Businessmen get tattoos, we can’t give an opinion“.
Delving deeper into the subject, from his point of view, he felt that “we have a general problem in Europe, not just in Spain. First of all, we have it here: we talk about education in Finland, but no one wants to be Finnish.” We have a productivity problem. People don’t want to work, but we allowed it. From 40 hours to 37; from 37 to 35 years old. People come to job interviews and the first thing they ask is how many days they work remotely, if they can do a month straight on that date… That seems crazy to me. » In this sense, he recalled a Jewish saying which says that “easy times make weak men, weak men make hard times, hard times make strong men and strong men make easy times.” Right now it’s a situation of, I think, easy times. What we are creating are very weak men and women, with many concessions“.
Regarding companies, and continuing his reflection, Vázquez expressed that “we are competing with global brands, where productivity conditions are infinitely superior, with a flexibility that is not like here. People go to work and don’t wonder what their rights are; he goes to work because he wants to contribute to the economy. Here’s an idea that businesses are obligated to support the working population base and that shouldn’t be the case. In general, I think we make too many concessions. » Likewise, he considered that “there is very little commitment. We live in a time where freedom is something… In other words, be happy, do what you want and it has no consequences, but absolutely everything has consequences. One day it happens. It’s like the debt of countries, you can’t go into debt forever. It seems to me that we are entering a territory of excessive concessions. Spain has become a country that allows you to eat, but does not allow you to gain weight. And that poses a big problem.”
He also talked about paying taxes, which he said “is a good thing.” For all those who believe in the rule of law, like me, It’s good when we see that it has an impact on the populationbut when it doesn’t, it bothers me. We are under very strong tax pressure and big capital is fleeing. This is a problem for a country’s economy. Here we continue to live very well, but I don’t know for how long“.
On the other hand, this Sevillian businessman also expressed his opinion on entrepreneurship in our country: “Spain continues to be a country of civil servants, of people who need a salary. Unfortunately, business owners are still seen in some forums as exploiters. People forget that entrepreneurs are usually people who have risked their lives and property all their lives. We take risks that are unthinkable for the vast majority of people who work with us. Sometimes I have the feeling that Everyone is very aware of their rights as a worker, but not so much of their duties.. They spend all day thinking about what the company can do for them, but not what they can do for the company. This is the way to make companies big and guarantee a future. »
Another part of his interview focused on the issue of layoffs and complaints that usually arise: “We are laying you off for this to survive and there are others that are necessary. No one dispenses with those who are not needed in the organization, that would be stupid. These are the rules of the game. I don’t understand why someone who joins a company protests against being fired. Well, look for another job. If you think you are very valuable, you will surely find another job,” he said.
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