DistantNews
Support us
🇺🇾 Uruguay /Elections & Politics

Usurpation, abuse of power and disclosure of secrets: the crimes opposition lawmakers accuse Lazo of

From El País · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Documents & data In the courts
  • Opposition lawmakers filed a criminal complaint against Uruguayan Defense Minister Sandra Lazo and two close advisers over the cancellation of a contract with the Cardama shipyard.
  • The complaint alleges usurpation of functions, disclosure of official secrets, improper use of privileged information and abuse of power.
  • The lawmakers accuse the advisers of conducting inquiries and preparing reports without formal appointments or legal authority, including work linked to disciplinary action against senior naval officers.

Opposition lawmakers have accused Defense Minister Sandra Lazo and two of her closest advisers of acting with the appearance of criminal conduct during the government’s handling of the Cardama shipyard contract.

The complaint, filed on Thursday night, invokes four alleged offenses: usurpation of functions, disclosure of secrets learned through official duties, improper use of privileged information and abuse of power. Six lawmakers from the National, Colorado and Independent parties signed the filing after serving on the bicameral commission that investigated the contract’s purchase process and subsequent cancellation.

with the appearance of criminal conduct

· Opposition lawmakersThe complaint’s characterization of the actions allegedly promoted by the minister and her advisers.

The legislators allege that Lazo, a leader of the MPP, participated in and promoted the actions between March 1 and June 1, 2025. They specifically target Damián Rojas and Daniel Marsiglia, who publicly presented themselves and acted as the minister’s advisers without an enabling rule, formal appointment or legal backing, according to the complaint.

advisers

· Opposition lawmakersThe term used in the complaint to describe Rojas and Marsiglia’s public role, which lawmakers say lacked formal legal authorization.

The filing says the two men carried out inquiries that the lawmakers describe as unauthorized investigations. It also accuses them of improperly handling official and classified information. The complaint alleges that they questioned senior Navy officials, accessed confidential information related to national defense and obtained sensitive details reserved for officials with the required rank. It further says that several elements later began appearing in political and media circles.

The complaint also focuses on a report prepared by Rojas and Marsiglia on March 29, 2025. According to the lawmakers, the document played a key role in sanctions against Rear Admirals Miguel de Souza and José Ruiz, Navy Captain Marcelo da Silva and former Navy commander Jorge Wilson. The officers were required to serve strict arrest after an administrative investigation. The opposition describes the report as secret and irregular, arguing that it involved the collection and analysis of classified information and interrogations of private individuals and public officials, despite the advisers having no formal relationship with the Defense Ministry.

investigations

· Opposition lawmakersThe complaint’s description of inquiries allegedly conducted without the authority to do so.
About this summary

Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog