The former president said that Astesiano “It is a criminal episode, but not government corruption or compromise.”
Former President Julio María Sanguinetti spoke on Monday about the file resolved by prosecutor Gilberto Rodríguez of the investigation for alleged irregularities during the management of former Tourism Minister Germán Cardoso.
At a press conference, Sanguinetti said that the Prosecutor’s decision “imports morally.”
“We had the absolute conviction that there was no crime. There was indeed a discussion about administrative decisions, some of which also came from the previous period. The complaints against the former minister (Liliam) Kechichian had also been filed. But there was a year of suffering for Deputy Cardoso”Sanguinetti pointed out, referring to the legislator of his sector.
Astesian Case
When asked about the Astesiano case, Sanguinetti said that it is “an urgent Republican need that the investigation conducted by the prosecutor advance with the guarantees of due process and compliance with the law.”
“In order for the investigation to develop normally, it must be free of pressure and interference of all kinds: political, media and administrative. Our claim is fundamentally one of prudence and reflection. That while the investigation is ongoing due to the very seriousness of the matter, public opinion should not be alarmed with mere conjectures about what could have happened or could not have happened,” the former president summarized.
On whether there is a possible institutional crisis, Sanguinetti replied that “from the first minute it is the opposite.”
“The president found out at the time the prison was ordered that an office subordinate to him, such as the Intelligence Directorate and the Prosecutor’s Office, were carrying out an investigation into his custody. It is an expression of how the Uruguayan institutionality works with autonomy and independence”, defended the red politician according to radio Montecarlo.
Referring to the case in particular, Sanguinetti said that “what there is is a band of bribes that had already started in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the previous government and then unfortunately incorporated Astesiano.”
“It is a criminal episode, but not government corruption or compromise. What compromises is the law.” he claimed.
Montevideo Portal
