The mayor of Durazno, Carmelo Vidalín, of the National Partyshared his willingness to collaborate with the new Frente Amplio (FA) government in a recent interview. During his participation in the program “Las barbas en soako” on Radio Yi AM 960, Vidalín highlighted the good relationship he maintains with the FA political movement, mentioning his appreciation for leaders like Yamandú Orsi, Pepe (Mujica) and Lucía (Topolansky).
These statements arise in the context of reflection on the recent electoral results, where his party faced a clear defeat by more than 100,000 votes difference, and has the ruling party force in a process of reflection and self-criticism.
Vidalín also criticized the outgoing government of Luis Lacalle Pouarguing that he did not make significant changes to the government structure inherited from the FA. “He left the entire structure that came from the FA government”, he stated. According to their perspective, the only visible transformation was the rotation of ministers, undersecretaries and directors, suggesting continuity behind appearances. Referring to Delgado’s management, he expressed that the mark of a successful president can be a burden for his successors.
Furthermore, emphasizing that “The only thing that changed was the minister, undersecretary and director of the Secretariat”. For Vidalín, not having trusted people in key positions translates into a lack of leadership and direction. He argued that it is essential to maintain a government administered with austerity and justice, avoiding the use of the state apparatus for political purposes.
“I have a very good relationship with the MPP. I love and consider myself a friend of Orsi, Pepe and Lucía” – Carmelo Vidalín, mayor of Durazno
Evaluation of Orsi’s electoral victory
When analyzing the results of the elections, Vidalín was surprised by the difference of 100,000 votes that favored Orsi. “He understood that if Delgado won, the difference would be between 500 and 6 thousand votes, and if Orsi won the difference would be between 30 and 50 thousand votes.“, he indicated, thus highlighting the magnitude of the victory of the Frente Amplio. Despite his expectations, he admitted that he has maintained communication with the new leaders, reaffirming his intention to collaborate and his friendly relationship with them.
During the dialogue, the mayor not only addressed his relationship with the new FA leaders, but also his personal experience in the recent campaign. He recalled that, despite being one of the promoters of the candidacy of Alvaro Delgadoit was never easy for a candidate who inherits the virtues of a popular president. This context creates unique challenges and Vidalín seems aware of the responsibility that the new leaders will face.
Reflections on the leadership of the National Party
Vidalín also reflected on the election of candidates within the National Party, remembering past situations in which leaders such as Tabaré Vázquez or Sanguinetti opted for candidates who failed to succeed. “The candidate was one of the factors. Although I have a very great appreciation for Valeria Ripoll, not all the political forces of my party or other parties accepted Valeria as a candidate. [a vicepresidenta]”, he noted. This reference to the difficulties in choosing candidates highlights the complexity of internal party politics at crucial moments.
He was open to the figure of Laura Raffo as an option that could have strengthened the national candidacy. He stated that Raffo’s election could have provided greater strength to the campaign, reaffirming the importance of choosing allies and effective communication in politics.
Praise and criticism of Vidalín for his position
From the Frente Amplio, they celebrated Vidalín’s position. Such was the case of Senator Jose Carlos Mahía, who recalled the nationalist’s time in Parliament: “I perfectly remember the political attitude of @CarmeloVidalin when we approved the bill that gave birth to the @UTECuy. “He was fundamental in his party’s Caucus, he acted prioritizing the national interest.”
On the other hand, Ana Lía Piñeyrúa, member of the National Party, former national representative of that political force, criticized him: “Very sad, Cacho! “It’s ugly to go around offering,” he wrote on X.com.
