In case of Alexander Astesiano It has been one of the main controversies that has plagued the government since the problem broke out last September. The imprisonment of the former head of custody of President Luis Lacalle Pou has generated a series of derivations that are known every day, becoming one of the most difficult dialectical battlefronts that he has open with the Broad Front. The opposition has demanded that the president take charge of his relationship with the former head of presidential security, now in prison.
The situation took an unexpected turn when Gustavo Loyalhead of the Ministry of the Interior in the last government of the Broad Front, met with Astesiano’s parents and would have offered them “help”. Leal was summoned to testify by the prosecutor in charge of the case, Gabriela Fossati, who seeks to know some elements related to that meeting held days ago in a house in Chuí, the Brazilian city that shares the urban area with its Uruguayan neighbor Chuy.
The government takes advantage of the diversion of attention
In response to these revelations, the government demanded that Leal give public explanations as soon as possible, without waiting to testify at the Prosecutor’s Office next Thursday. The suspicion that is being handled is that it was an approach to obtain information that harms the President of the Republic. The opposition, for its part, supported Leal and asked to wait until they had the full picture.
The controversy continues to generate suspicion, but the truth is that it is an unprecedented episode in the last 30 years. Both the ruling party and the opposition are trying to deal with a complex situation that affects the image of the government and generates concern among the population, not only because of the internal impact but also because of the impact on the international image refering to corruption.
Leal told the press that he will not give statements before giving the respective statements in judicial instances, and that he will not comment on “press reports.”
The Secretary of the Presidency, Alvaro Delgado, expressed at a press conference his surprise at the alleged complaint by Lacalle’s former custodian. “What was he going to do? Was she or wasn’t she? Did you offer them money? Is it true or is it not true? We all have the right to know, because if it is confirmed – and I am one of those who do not do what I criticize when others do – it is very serious,” said Delgado. He added that if Astesiano’s version is true, he will ask for “a clear and emphatic clarification” from the Broad Front.
“I don’t want to venture because I don’t want to do what others do, but one gets creative and the suspicions are enormous,” said Delgado, summoning Fernando Pereira, president of the FA.
