After the adverse results faced by the National Party, both in the first round and in the runoff against the Frente Amplio, the most influential members of the political party are looking for those to blame for the electoral setback.
This situation has generated an internal debate about the strategic decisions adopted during the electoral campaign. In this context, the statements of the senator-elect Sebastian Da Silva have had a considerable echo, when qualifying the designation of the former candidate for vice president, Valeria Ripollas an “error”.
In an interview with Montevideo Portal, Da Silva did not hesitate to express that the election of Ripoll, who had a fairly brief career within the National Party, translated into an “ordeal” for Álvaro Delgado’s campaign. The senator argued that Ripoll’s election harmed the candidate’s strategies, since for several weeks, Delgado was forced to justify his decision to his voters.
He also noted that some of Ripoll’s previous posts, particularly a photograph of a union occupation, did not align with the interests of the white electorate.
Ripoll shakes off the blame: “this is collective responsibility”
For its part, Valeria Ripoll responded to criticism reflexively, avoiding a direct confrontation with Da Silva. In a conversation with Doble Click on Del Sol FM, Ripoll emphasized that the defeat cannot be attributed to a single individual, but rather constitutes a “collective responsibility.”
Furthermore, he dismissed Da Silva’s assertions about the existence of an “entourage” that isolated Delgadomaintaining that there was no closed group and remembering that the senator had constant interaction with the candidate during the campaign.
Ripoll expressed his surprise at the senator’s comments, stating that, in his opinion, there are elements in his statements that are erroneous. “It seems to me that he is wrong about some things and, I’ll tell you, I was even surprised. There are current publications where Da Silva himself posed himself as more ripollista than anyone.”said. With these words, the former candidate seeks to clarify her position and allude to a context in which there seem to be contradictions in Da Silva’s words.
Javier García discusses who is the leader of the PN
Adding to the repercussions caused by this exchange was the opinion of Senator Javier García, who reaffirmed this Monday that Luis Lacalle Pou is the “undisputed” leader of the National Party. García highlighted the importance of leadership that is based on popular approval and democratic processes, thus responding to Ripoll’s comments regarding Álvaro Delgado’s candidacy as party leader in the future.
The senator also explained that the party is going through a “historic” moment that requires moving towards a unified leadership, leaving behind the sectoral leadership scheme. “Today the leadership in the National Party, without a doubt, is that of Luis. Leadership is not decreed; “They are the result of a medium and long-term process, and in the end they are determined by people voting,” he declared, referring to the impact of popular opinion on the party’s internal politics.
In parallel, García stressed the importance of strengthening the foundations of the Republican coalition, which is blurred and disorganized with a view to being the opposition starting in 2025. In his statements, he emphasized that the coalition, although currently operating as an electoral instrument, must evolve towards a more solid and cohesive structure in the future. “The house does not start with the roof, but with the foundation“, he noted, emphasizing the need for joint work that respects the particularities and internal processes of each party that makes up said coalition.
