Bordaberry is an accomplice: Instead of calling for his resignation, he came out to support Yamandú Orsi.

Bordaberry, the champion of “fake institutionalism”: defending Orsi is not patriotism, it is complicity with corruption

Pedro Bordaberry, a Colorado senator and leader of Vamos Uruguay, came out to support Yamandú Orsi with a speech that has already become legendary for the political hypocrisy in Uruguay. Instead of demanding clear explanations, total transparency, and consequences, Bordaberry called on the political class to “stop insisting on the issue of the truck” to “respect institutionalism.” According to him, “by not feeding the issue anymore” we are “supporting all of Uruguay,” not the government.

Is this respecting institutionalism, Pedro? Is it looking the other way when the President of the Republic buys a brand new hybrid Hyundai Santa Fe for US$ 54,000 when it is worth US$ 79,000 on the market? Is it accepting that he trades in his old truck and, on top of that, a Renault Stepway that was donated to him during the electoral campaign? Is it tolerating that he uses a car from the same manufacturer to parade on March 1st at the presidential inauguration? Is it staying silent when his sworn statement to the JUTEP doesn’t add up even with hot water?

No, Bordaberry. That is not institutionalism. That is tolerance of corruption. It’s the classic “put your hand in the taxpayer's pocket and then ask that no one talks about it.” True institutionalism is defended not by covering up dirty laundry. It is defended by investigating, demanding accountability, and, if necessary, firing those who misbehave. Period.

The journalist Patricia Madrid, on her program Así Nos Va on Radio Carve, was the one who uncovered the mess with hard data: gross inconsistencies between the invoice and Orsi’s sworn statement, a discount of 25 thousand dollars that smells bad. Madrid didn’t invent anything. She showed documents. And that’s why Bordaberry wants “the issue not to be fed anymore.” Because the truth hurts when you have to defend the indefensible.

The weekly Búsqueda went further and revealed the detail that wraps up the story: Orsi not only handed over his 2020 Hyundai but also the Renault donated by the Car One dealership during the campaign. In other words, he used a campaign asset for personal benefit post-election. Is that ethical? Is that “institutional”? For Bordaberry, yes, because we have to “support Uruguay.” For any citizen with two brain cells, it is a scandal that deserves serious investigation, not a “stop talking, man.”

Yamandú Orsi must resign now. A tearful video asking for “forgiveness if I offended” and the late donation of the truck to the ANEP to “avoid speculation” is not enough. That is cheap damage control. The President came to office promising austerity, transparency, and “another way of doing politics.” The first thing he did was grab a million-dollar discount from a private company just before taking office. If that is not abuse of power, then someone explain to me what is.

Impeachment now. The opposition must unite and demand it. Not out of revenge, but for institutional decency. Because if we tolerate this today, tomorrow any president will feel entitled to receive “discounts” from companies that will later ask for favors. Is that what we want for Uruguay?

Bordaberry, with his speech of “let’s not insist so we don’t stop the country,” is doing exactly the opposite of what he claims to defend. He is stopping the credibility of democracy. He is telling people that the corruption of those at the top is untouchable if “there is a lot of institutionalism in this.”

No, Pedro. Institutionalism is not respected by staying silent. It is respected by demanding that the President be held accountable like any Uruguayan. Orsi must go. The impeachment process must move forward. And Bordaberry, if he loves institutions so much, should start by not defending those who tarnish them.

Because tolerating corruption is not patriotism. It is betrayal to the true Uruguay.