The Senate of Uruguay approved the promotions to the rank of colonel for three Army officers, generating a notable political and ethical debate. Two of the approvals faced opposition from the Frente Amplio party. This was due to the controversies surrounding the history of one of the promoted officers, who faces allegations of harassment and a previous sanction.
The Executive Branch requested approval for the promotions on February 1. The vote, discussed both in committee and in the plenary, showed clashes between the senators of the government and the Frente Amplio. The main controversy revolved around the military officer, whose legal situation was still unresolved and was subject to sanctions in 2023 for inappropriate conduct.
Differences between parties: the position of the PN and the coalition
Government sources justified the vote by pointing out that the judicial process is pending, which maintains the presumption of innocence. “It was assessed that it is not yet a matter of res judicata, so the person remains innocent,” they told a local media outlet. “Eventually, if he is later declared guilty, he will have to be penalized,” they added.
From the Frente Amplio, the senator of the Popular Participation Movement, Sandra Lazo, criticized the decision. “The Frente (Amplio) is not willing to endorse and raise its hand in this type of situation,” she said. She also emphasized the importance of reviewing the history of candidates for promotion to ensure a flawless track record before giving their support.
Background and new allegations
A report from the Ministry of Defense, which was seen by lawmakers, details the complaints against the colonel, which date back to May 2023. A specialized Army commission identified that his conduct “could fall within the category of sexual harassment.” In response, the commander-in-chief ordered a five-day arrest for inappropriate behavior.
In February of this year, a new complaint was filed. According to the report, since it was after February 1, the initial date of the promotion request, it should not be taken into account for the approval. However, the case remains unresolved, and the evaluation of the military officer’s conduct continues to be a matter of controversy among legislators.
Complaints and systematic investigation
The investigation against the soldier officially began in February of last year, with the first formal complaint. The complainant filed a document at the beginning of this year stating that, after reporting her case, she was transferred from one department to another without due justification. “The psychologist at that time told me that it was not appropriate to change my destination if I was facing an investigation process and was the victim,” she explained in her statement.
During the investigation, the complainants and authorities held meetings to discuss the case, but according to their lawyer, Luis González, access to procedural information has been restricted. “With regard to the procedure, there are clear flaws that the law establishes for such cases, and to date we have not been able to access the information,” he said.
Harassment allegations: the controversy behind military promotion
González also questioned the logic behind the Senate vote. He plans to file a petition to access the full file and the decisions of the Ministry of Defense. The criticisms are refuted by the authorities involved, who defend the procedure followed and the right of promotion of the military officer until proven guilty.
The other two cases approved by the Senate had different paths. One of the cases, delayed by an investigation into medical malpractice, ended up being resolved in favour of the military officer, after clarifications from the Ministry of Defence confirming that the accused had made correct interventions. In the end, the vote was unanimous.
In another case, an officer was investigated for allegedly displaying flags inappropriately on his desk, but was exonerated after concluding that the flags were work-related gifts and did not constitute a violation.
Sandra Lazo, a senator from the Frente Amplio, expressed her party’s willingness not to hinder out of mere opposition. “The Armed Forces are a necessary institution for Uruguay, but we must have the best ones, and those who are promoted must have an impeccable record,” she said. The need for an ethical review at each step of military promotion was reaffirmed by the senator.
