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Broad Front demands communications registry between Cardama and past government defense authorities
🇺🇾 Uruguay /Conflict & Security

Broad Front demands communications registry between Cardama and past government defense authorities

From El País · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • The Broad Front party is demanding the release of communications between a former defense official and the past government regarding a controversial patrol boat contract.
  • Lawyers representing the previous administration stated their work focused on contract drafting and guarantee evaluations, noting expired deadlines for a performance bond.
  • Opposition lawmakers allege the process was disorganized, marked by extensions, and involved a potentially fraudulent company, leading to the contract's rescission.

Uruguay's Broad Front party is pressing for access to all communications involving former defense officials and the previous government concerning a contentious contract for two oceanic patrol boats. The current administration rescinded the agreement.

In my view, what the lawyers expressed was conclusive.

— Joaquín GarloA Broad Front lawmaker commented on the testimony provided by lawyers advising the previous government on a controversial defense contract.

Lawyers from Delpiazzo Abogados, who advised the past government on the deal with Spanish shipbuilder Cardama, appeared before a bicameral commission investigating the contract. According to opposition lawmaker Joaquín Garlo, the lawyers asserted their role was limited to drafting the contract and assessing guarantees, none of which they endorsed. They also pointed out that the deadline for a performance bond had passed in August 2024, rendering the contract invalid.

it depends on the interpretation that each one makes from the topics.

— Pablo AbdalaA National Party lawmaker offered a different perspective on the lawyers' testimony, suggesting it lacked significant new information.

However, Garlo criticized the current Defense Ministry for requesting communication records, claiming the ministry had none. He stated that the documentation provided by Delpiazzo Abogados, including emails and WhatsApp messages, has been crucial in documenting the process. Garlo characterized the guarantee process between Uruguay and Cardama as "absolutely disorganized" and plagued by "endless extensions," which led to the involvement of Eurocommerce, a company later found to be fictitious.

the process of establishing the guarantees between Uruguay and Cardama was absolutely disorganized and was marked by a series of endless extensions that led to the participation of Eurocommerce, a company that was later proven to be false.

— Joaquín GarloThe opposition lawmaker criticized the handling of the contract, highlighting issues with guarantees and the involvement of a fraudulent company.

The opposition insists the contract should never have taken effect, nor should the initial payment of 8 million euros have been made. They are seeking emails from former officials, including the ex-director general of the Secretariat and the ex-director of Financial Resources, to determine if communications exist with Delpiazzo Abogados, Cardama, or its Uruguayan representative.

we want to know if communications exist between the Ministry of Defense and the Delpiazzo Study, but also with Cardama and its representative in Uruguay, Gerardo Moreira.

— Joaquín GarloThe lawmaker detailed the opposition's request for specific communication records as part of the investigation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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