Charles Carreramember of the Broad Front (FA) and senator of the Popular Participation Movementannounced his resignation from the Senate of the Legislative Palace. This decision was communicated after the prosecutor Silvia Porteiro, in charge of investigating economic and complex crimes, requested his removal from office in relation to the Investigation into the Police Hospital case.
The investigation against Carrera arises from his alleged abuse of functions when he was director general of the Secretariat of the Ministry of the Interior. He is accused of having facilitated the care of Victor Hernandez at the Police Hospital after an incident in 2012. Hernandez was allegedly accidentally shot by the police, leaving him quadriplegic.
Carrera maintains that he made the “institutional decision” to “protect” Hernández, with the backing of various human rights institutions and the support of José Carlos Cardoso, former deputy of the National Party (PN). In a press conference, Carrera said he would appear before the courts “like any ordinary person” and stated that “the information is not correct.”
Reactions from the front and opposition parties
From the National Party, Senator Jorge Gandini said that Carrera is isolated and that the FA “let him go.” Gandini stressed that the accusation compromises the Frente Amplio, and that, if Carrera does not also withdraw his candidacy for the Senate, the issue could become a point of debate during the campaign.
Fernando Pereirapresident of the FA, expressed his surprise at Carrera’s resignation, but valued his responsibility and courage to face justice without relying on their parliamentary privileges. Pereira defended the actions of the FA regarding the case, stating that they made sure to protect Hernández given his complicated situation.
Participation of other political figures
Hernández’s medical situation was handled by Carrera’s decision, which allowed him to be treated in a hospital reserved for police personnel or their immediate family members, in violation of existing regulations. Hernández received the equivalent of 20,000 pesos in food vouchers between 2013 and 2016, financed by a police fund.
The Director of Communications for the Attorney General’s Office, Javier Benech, indicated that depending on the parliamentary resolution regarding the impeachment, Carrera could be called back by the Attorney General’s Office. Benech recalled that, in addition to Hernández, Carrera, his partner, and other political figures were also treated at the medical center, including former minister Bonomi and his wife, deputy Susana Pereyra.
