Last Friday, Victor Björganformer advisor to the State Strategic Intelligence Secretariat (SIEE), made public his decision to support the candidacy for the presidency of Yamandu Orsiof the Frente Amplio, in the runoff scheduled for Sunday, November 24. His announcement surprised many, given his recent career as a representative of the National Party in a multi-party group on security during the year 2022. The situation became complicated when, following his statement, he received notification of his separation from work.
The Executive Branch’s decision to dismiss Björgan came on Tuesday afternoon, just a few days after she made her political position public. The notification was sent to his official email from the SIEE, and concluded with the signature of the secretariat, without further explanation.
Sources close to the Presidency indicated that “personal and political trust” had been lost due to Björgan’s decision to express her support for a candidate who was not part of the ruling party.
Björgan’s position and her professional future
Víctor Björgan was quick to express his disagreement with the government’s decision. In statements to the media, he denounced that his dismissal represents a “punishment” for the exercise of his freedom of expression. Given this, he announced his intention to file an appeal before the Administrative Litigation Court (TCA) to request the annulment of his dismissal.
“I lost my job for saying that I want to vote for Orsi, it is discrimination”stressed Björgan, who maintained that their employment relationship was not based on a position of political trust, but on a technical contract.
The recently fired advisor indicated that the link he had with the SIEE was clear in terms of its nature. He argued that he had been hired to provide technical services, which should make him unaware of the political decisions that mark the limits of positions of trust. In his opinion, there is a direct link between his public statement in favor of Orsi and the decision to terminate his contract.
Official reactions and the legal context
The response of the director of the SIEE, Álvaro Garcé, to Björgan’s accusations, was forceful. In an interview, Garcé denied the version of events, stating that he did not receive instructions to separate Björgan from any superior. According to the director, the decision to fire him was strictly his, arguing that it is incompatible for someone to work in intelligence and, at the same time, openly support an opposition candidate, which could compromise his professional work.
Garcé also emphasized that the Intelligence Law prohibits officials in this area from making public statements that could influence public opinion or national policy. This regulation seeks to preserve the impartiality and integrity of intelligence agencies in a politically polarized environment. However, Björgan frames her situation as a clear case of discrimination, citing her right to express her political opinions.
The path to court and legal support
With the advice of her lawyer, Hugo Barreto, Björgan is preparing to file an administrative appeal that questions the legality of her dismissal. Your legal strategy will focus on demonstrating that your termination was not supported by an appropriate legal basis and that your employment rights were violated. According to him, the situation is emblematic of a political environment where freedom of expression is vulnerable.
