The Broad Front (FA) issued a statement in which it expressed its full support for the President of the left-wing coalition, Fernando Pereira, who has been denounced by the prosecutor in the Astesiano case, Gabriela Fossati, for defamation and insults.
The resolution of the Frente Amplio body highlights that President Pereira has been denounced “unfairly” for giving his opinion on decisions made by the Prosecutor’s Office in the framework of a corruption case in the current government. In addition, the political force endorses the words and assessments made by Pereira, and emphatically rejects the complaint filed by Fossati.
In this sense, the FA expresses its concern, since the Prosecutor’s Office has summoned opposition leaders, journalists and citizens who have nothing to do with the events that gave rise to the judicial action to testify. The left-wing coalition points out that in a rule of law the broadest freedom of thought and expression must govern, and that the Astesiano case, like others that have occurred in the government, has damaged the image of the country and can generate an effect of censorship on those who They think differently from what was done by the Prosecutor’s Office.
Defend Human Rights
Likewise, the FA establishes in its declaration that freedom of expression of thought is guaranteed by the Constitution and the American Convention on Human Rights, and recalls that when the political force was the government, it approved the decriminalization of communication crimes so that public debate would not be hindered. The reform of Law No. 18,515 establishes that expressions of public interest will not be criminally prosecuted, unless the real malice of the author to harm people or violate their private life is proven.
On the other hand, the Broad Front reaffirms its commitment to defend fundamental human rights and will continue to exercise its opposition role, as the Uruguayan people have entrusted it.
