Adrián Peña, former Minister of the Environment, presented a discharge before the Ethics Committee of the Colorado Party after the request of three groups to investigate the facts related to his college degree. The ex-hierarch acknowledged his mistake, but pointed out that his personal reputation was the only one affected and that he did not use the title for personal gain or act as a graduate in business administration in the private sphere.
Peña also explained that the title was not related to his appointment as a minister and even less as a senator.. In addition, he affirmed that his resignation from the Secretary of State was a sanction that he imposed on himself and that expulsion from the party is impracticable, considering that the necessary votes would not be reached for it.
The report prepared by the Ethics Committee will be sent to the Colorado National Convention, which will decide if sanctions are applied to the ex-minister. The members of the committee see an extreme measure such as expulsion as unfeasible and seek to give advice to the highest party body. The organic charter of the party provides that members can be penalized for behaviors that are at odds with ethics or morality.
Peña continues in transition at the Ministry of the Environment to hand over his work to Robert Bouvier. After talking with President Luis Lacalle Pou, the former minister plans to take a few days off in March to complete his university studies in the event that vacancies open up, with the intention of returning to the Senate with his studies successfully completed.
After being exposed to the fact that he did not have the university degree with which he had presented himself, Peña admitted his mistake, resigned from the Ministry of the Environment but, immediately, he ran to resume his position in the Senate, where he has parliamentary privileges.
