National Party Faces Internal Strife Over Montevideo Trust Vote

Internal strife is brewing within Uruguay's National Party following a controversial vote by the Lista 22 faction on trusts proposed by the Montevideo Intendancy, led by the Frente Amplio's Mario Bergara. This separate negotiation and subsequent approval of the trusts have created significant tension, with critics accusing Lista 22 of betraying party lines.

Santiago Caramés, a prominent leader within the Lista 22 group, voiced his "surprise and pain" over the party's reaction. He highlighted that no formal summons had been issued for the faction's representatives to appear before the party's Ethics Commission, stating, "We found out through the press." Caramés confirmed that an email was sent to the party's national director, Álvaro Delgado, requesting an immediate meeting to clarify the situation.

Caramés defended the vote as a purely political and collective decision by Lista 22, rejecting any notion of an ethical breach. "It is not an ethical issue, it is a political decision. It was not just the two council members who raised their hands, but the entire list," he asserted in a dialogue with Doble Click (FM Del Sol). He further argued that the party has historically allowed sectors freedom of action on issues of national importance, citing the law of "caducidad" (amnesty law) as an example where party discipline was not imposed.

The core of Caramés's criticism lies in what he perceives as a "double standard" within the National Party's application of its rules. He pointed to instances in other departments, such as Canelones, Florida, and Salto, where Intendancies led by the National Party have also sought and received support for public works and financing. "There is a double standard for measuring certain things. In Canelones, a vote was cast for Atlántida sanitation, which I agree with. Also in Florida and Salto, where there are National Party intendancies," he enumerated, questioning why Lista 22 is labeled as "traitors" for similar actions while supporting governing parties elsewhere.

Caramés stated that Lista 22 remains open to dialogue and sees the support for the trusts as an investment in local development. While acknowledging some criticisms of the current Montevideo administration, he emphasized a strategic difference in how to exercise oversight, aiming to "dialogue, agree, and put forward another way of thinking about Montevideo."