The Chamber of Senators began the discussion of the social security reform project at 3 in the afternoon this Thursday in an extraordinary session, after having been approved in the Chamber of Deputies and now it must be endorsed by the Upper House.
During the first two hours of the session, senators Germán Coutinho from the Colorado Party, Amanda Della Ventura, Óscar Andrade, Silvia Nane from the Broad Front, Sergio Botana and Sebastián Da Silva from the National Party, took the floor.
Although the debate was taking place on good terms, a cross between Da Silva and the senator from the Popular Participation Movement (MPP) Alexander Sanchez forced the Vice President of the Republic, Beatriz Argimón, to request a recess.
In his speech, Da Silva questioned the representativeness of organized workers and the Broad Front. “We all represent the workers. And the culture of work is represented by some more than others. It is not with acts and mobilizations that the quality of representative of the workers of Uruguay is acquired. It is through the vote. This is not who yells at the most or makes the most barricade speech, ”said the right-wing legislator.
And he added: “We are tired of them coming enlightened to set themselves up as representatives of the workers. The same as always come, the same as always speak, the same as always applaud. That is not the majority of the working people of Uruguay. They are the ones who are organized. With each general strike [un trabajador] He has to spend one or two hours waiting for the bus because an enlightened trade unionist thinks of making a transport stoppage…”
Sánchez interrupted Da Silva’s speech telling him “govern for all”. The nationalist senator reacted aggressively, asking him to “shut up”. The situation forced the vice president to interrupt the session.
Social security reform is a crucial issue on Uruguay’s political agenda. The discussion in the Senate promises to be intense and relevant for the future of the country. We will keep our readers informed about the progress on this important bill.
