Uruguay's National Party to Sue Ethics Board Over Alleged Irregularities

The political landscape in Uruguay is heating up as the National Party (PN) signals its intent to escalate its conflict with the Board of Transparency and Public Ethics (JUTEP). Citing "proven irregularities" and actions with "the appearance of criminal acts," the PN is preparing to file a criminal complaint. This move represents a significant hardening of the opposition's stance against the institution, which is tasked with upholding ethical standards in public office.

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proven irregularities

Luis Calabria, the PN's representative on JUTEP's board, has been at the forefront of this confrontation. He has openly clashed with JUTEP's president, Ana Ferraris, and board member Alfredo Asti, both affiliated with the ruling Frente Amplio coalition. Calabria alleges that certain majority decisions made by the board possess "major institutional gravity," a serious accusation that suggests a potential undermining of JUTEP's core functions. The PN's parliamentary group has discussed these issues, and sources within the party indicate that specific circumstances raised by Calabria could constitute offenses such as "unnamed abuse of functions" or even "alteration of public documents."

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major institutional gravity

At the heart of the dispute are recent modifications to how JUTEP registers its sessions and processes incoming complaints. According to Calabria's report, since mid-2025, a new procedure directs complaints directly to the secretariat without an initial review by the legal advisory department. While the legal secretariat still reviews cases later, Calabria argues that allowing the presidency to handle initial inquiries and send official requests to other bodies allows for undue influence on ongoing investigations. This change, he contends, could allow the board's majority to "influence the files" when it suits their interests.

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facts with the appearance of criminal acts

From Uruguay's perspective, as covered by El País, this conflict highlights the ongoing tension between political parties regarding oversight bodies. The PN, as a major opposition force, is leveraging its position to scrutinize the actions of an institution perceived by some as potentially politicized. The accusations, if proven, would not only damage JUTEP's credibility but also raise serious questions about the integrity of public administration in Uruguay. The party's decision to pursue legal action underscores a commitment to accountability, though the ruling coalition may view it as a politically motivated attack on an independent body. The outcome of these legal consultations will be closely watched, as it could set a precedent for future political disputes over transparency and ethics.

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other concrete figures, such as the alteration of public documents.