Montevideo Board Approves Mayor's Cleaning Plan with Opposition Support

The Montevideo Departmental Board has approved Mayor Mario Bergara's ambitious cleaning plan, a move requiring a special majority and securing crucial opposition support. The plan, which includes tens of millions of dollars in additional budget lines for various municipal projects, passed with 21 votes in favor out of a possible 31.

“

The city has a true emergency in terms of cleaning, with overflowing containers and endemic garbage dumps.

To achieve the necessary special majority, Bergara needed the backing of four opposition council members. This support was ultimately provided by Nicolás Hernández and Joaquín Campos from the National Party's List 22, Federico Paganini from the Colorado Party, and Guillermo Kruse, who, while not formally a member of the National Party, had previously supported its candidate for mayor.

“

The Broad Front (FA) has never been able to hit the mark in 36 years, and today we are in a situation of true emergency.

Federico Paganini of the Colorado Party stated that his party "accompanies" the budget proposal, emphasizing the city's "true emergency" regarding cleanliness, characterized by overflowing containers and endemic garbage dumps. He criticized the Broad Front (Frente Amplio), which has governed Montevideo for 36 years, for failing to address the issue effectively and for allegedly making residents pay for mismanagement.

“

From this seat, I do not cut off the possibility of continuing to make motions and requests for information on the cleaning of the city of Montevideo.

Guillermo Kruse explained his affirmative vote by expressing "total confidence" in the IMM's Director of Environmental Development, Leonardo Herou. Kruse also affirmed his intention to continue proposing motions and requesting reports on the city's cleaning efforts. Meanwhile, council members from the National Party's List 22 published a statement justifying their decision. They clarified that their vote was not based on "blind trust" or "political affinity" but on the opportunity to "add new works and direct resources to areas that have awaited them for years." They added, "We are not voting for trust. We are voting for the capacity to change priorities," asserting that opposition should not mean merely "administering the wait."

“

We are not voting for trust. We are voting for the capacity to change priorities.