The recent conviction for corruption crimes of three prominent leaders of the National Party in Artigas has triggered a crisis in politics, but rather directly in the National Party.
Those involved are Mayor Pablo Caram, former deputy Valentina Dos Santos and former general director of the municipality Rodolfo Caram, cousin of the mayor. They all admitted the charges brought by the Prosecutor’s Office related to the fraudulent payment of overtime to officials and agreed to an abbreviated process that allowed them to avoid prison with alternative sentences, such as community service.
Despite the court ruling, the political landscape is far from stable, especially within the National Party, which faces multiple challenges arising from this scandal and others that have occurred in recent years (some more serious than others, but none of them ignorable).
In the immediate area of the mayor’s office, the situation is complex. Although Pablo Caram remains in office, his official resignation is expected this Friday, after the holiday of July 18. According to the president of the Departmental Council of Artigas, Nelton Barreda, the resignation will be received and an extraordinary session will be called to formally accept it.
The internal debate is now focused on Caram’s succession. Valentina Dos Santos is next in line, but her complicated legal situation could lead her to commit a “new crime of usurpation of functions,” according to constitutional lawyer Ruben Correa Freitas, which exposes her to prison sentences for repetition. If Dos Santos declines the succession, she would be followed by the leader Elita Volpi, involved in another fraud scandal, and the rural producer Mario Predebon; ultimately, Barreda himself could take over on a temporary basis or until the end of the term, depending on the legal reports requested.
Inside the PN, the potatoes burn
The National Party’s response has generated internal divisions. Figures from “non-official” sectors, such as Espacio País, Espacio 40, the Por la Patria sector of Senator Jorge Gandini, and Alianza Nacional, expressed their discontent, although mostly in private to avoid a public debate that could be exploited by the opposition Frente Amplio.
The latter has so far received only isolated criticism, such as that of Vertiente Artiguista, which published a statement denouncing these “criminal and corrupt practices.”
The presidential candidate of the National Party, Álvaro Delgado, also spoke out about the case, stating that the irregularities detected are serious and that the party will take action. Although Dos Santos and Rodolfo Caram have already resigned from their membership, the party’s Board has requested that Pablo Caram’s case be referred to the Ethics Commission.
The initial revelation of this corruption case came on January 29, 2023, through a report in the newspaper El País. Despite the warnings of Senator Daniel Camy, who expressed his concerns on February 6 of the same year, no decisive measures were taken. Caram, when appearing before the Political Affairs Committee of the Board of Directors, defended his management and promised to provide evidence that he never presented.
Since then, broken promises and a lack of effective action have left a deep wound within the National Party. According to Rubén Correa Freitas, the controversy has been “constantly downplayed,” and the lack of a strong response could affect the party in the face of upcoming electoral challenges.
