This Monday, March 14, there was a strong exchange of words between the president of the ANCAP Federation (FANCAP), Gerardo Rodríguez, and the president of the Republic, Luis Lacalle Pou.
The incident occurred after the inauguration of an educational center of the Technological University (UTEC) in Minas, Lavalleja.
After the protocol ceremony at the new UTEC headquarters, Lacalle was approached by Rodríguez, members of FANCAP, and also by the MPP deputy for Lavalleja, Javier Umpiérrez.
Both the members of FANCAP and the legislator asked the president not to privatize Portland production in Lavalleja, to which the head of state said that it was an association, because it was making losses.
The conversation escalated and there were recriminations from both sides. Until then they greeted each other to put an end to the discussion in the face of recriminations from those present.
Discussion
–You came to Lavalleja to inaugurate a fundamental work so that the gurises do not leave the department. The first thing you can do so that the gurises don’t leave the department and have hope is not to privatize Portland in Lavalleja. Do you remember that you promised to receive the unions? But he didn’t call us anymore. The workers gave him a proposal and he never answered us. We ask him for a meeting and he does not receive us. The best thing you can do at this time of unemployment, that people have a hard time, is not to privatize portland– Rodríguez told Lacalle.
To which the president asked: –unemployment? You guys?
As a result of the president’s question, the union leader stated: –In Lavalleja and Paysandú they have 13% unemployment, well above the country average. At a time when all countries are appealing for public investment to reactivate the economy, investment in Portland is essential.
Lacalle interrupted to tell him: –What happens is that they have been showing a deficit for years. They let an oven rot. I never saw you raise your voice…
–No, it’s not rotten. If you want us to be able to compete with a company that has just set up with state-of-the-art technology, you have to make investments. Installing that oven in Paysandú would give jobs to a thousand people and that allows us to lower the cost of production Rodriguez argued.
At that moment, the MPP deputy Javier Umpiérrez intervened, who was with Rodríguez, and asked President Lacalle to send a bill to Parliament so that it can be discussed and not done the way the government is doing it.
Lacalle responded:Forgiveness. This way is legal and constitutional.
–But it goes against the will of the Uruguayan people that was expressed in 1992 and 2003 to keep ANCAP state and public. President, the P in ANCAP is for portland – said the president of FANCAP, Rodríguez.
–But we are not going to privatize added the president.
–Yes, because if it is associated and 80% is given to the private sector, they give it the limestone and the resources, it is privatizing Rodriguez questioned.
–We arrived here for many years, not for 15 or for twenty Lacalle intervened.
–What they are going to do is hand over the limestone wealth of Uruguay, 10,000 million dollars, we have to produce portland for a hundred years and we have a deficit of 70,000 homes –said the union leader.
Given this, Lacalle interrupted again: –You are not wrong. We are not going to privatize, we want them to be competitive. You are not going to lose your job.
–I am not fighting for myself, but for the people who are having a bad time… it is going to generate a brutal uprooting here and they will have to go to Montevideo Rodriguez said.
–You are not going to lose your job. How do you know they will have to go to Montevideo? remarked the head of state.
–Because they are not going to go to a private company Rodriguez replied.
–It is not a private company. It’s an association Lacalle insisted.
–It is privatization. Because if you give them the natural resources, the equipment and the ANCAP seal, it means privatizing– remarked the union leader.
–I speak with the unions. I have no obligation to ask the unions for permission. I speak, because they are representatives of a small part. When I think I have to talk to you, I’m going to talk to you Lacalle said.
–It’s not with me, it’s with the workers Rodriguez said.
–Workers is a very broad concept. I went to the General Assembly and said what we were going to do. I said that we were going to associate ANCAP after many years of loss. I never saw you protesting the loss. Now that we are going to associate it so that it has profits… – Lacalle recriminated.
Given this, Rodríguez limited: –We always protest.
–No, you didn’t protest…
–Yes, we protest…
–But very short, not like today…
–Nerd…
–Inside a dark room… Lacalle said ironically.
–No. Look at the records to see where we were when the desulfurizer was inaugurated. Anyway, the best thing you can do for these people is not to privatize the portland-Rodríguez asked.
At that moment they shook hands, some people protested and asked Lacalle not to privatize ANCAP and others chanted in favor of the president. Lacalle left accompanied by part of his team and a policeman.
