FA's criticism of Lacalle Pou sparks National Party response on security and governance

Tensions flared between Uruguay's political parties following a speech by Frente Amplio (FA) president Fernando Pereira, which included criticism of former President Luis Lacalle Pou. Leaders from the National Party quickly retaliated, targeting Pereira and questioning the current administration's handling of security.

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He will speak beautifully in Plaza Matriz, but when it came to handing over the government, he did so with US$1 billion more in fiscal deficit than expected, and with US$1 billion in debt. That had to be faced to resolve it.

Pereira's remarks at the party's 190th-anniversary commemoration reportedly touched on fiscal deficits and debt inherited from the previous administration. He also criticized the coalition government's record on social issues, stating that 30,000 more Uruguayans ended up in settlements over the last five years.

In response, National Party senator Javier García accused the FA of lacking ideas to address rising insecurity and violence, and to defend employment and investment. He characterized the FA's focus as an "OBSESSION: Lacalle Pou," suggesting a lack of direction within the opposition party.

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One can have a lot of discourse about freedom, that one cannot be free without work, housing, and education, but in the last five years, beyond the speeches, 30,000 more compatriots swelled the ranks of settlements in the coalition government. They did not gain more freedom.

Senator Sebastián da Silva, a frequent critic of Pereira, accused the FA leader of being "obsessed" with him due to a past denunciation. Da Silva positioned himself as a defender of "good faith administrators" and "presidential probity."

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All the ruling party gathered and not one idea to face the insecurity and violence that has taken over Uruguay. All gathered and not one idea to defend the work, employment, and investment that is leaving. The entire ruling party shouting with an OBSESSION: Lacalle Pou. It is increasingly clear the lack of direction and leadership.

Pereira, in turn, denounced "attacks from the Da Silvas and that whole community of serial haters." Da Silva retorted that studying history might teach Pereira that National Party members "like nothing more than to combat lies."

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When the left-winger is confronted, he becomes violent. He is obsessed with me because I denounced him in 2021 for being on the state payroll but not showing up to work. That is why I am where I am, and I will be here until I die. On the side of good faith administrators; in the party of presidential probities, alongside those who rise and fall poor from power.