MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Pepe Mujica criticizes PIT-CNT central labor for inaction under Lacalle Pou

“This talk of prioritizing the country is all just talk,” Mujica also said about Uruguayan politicians

Former Uruguayan President José Pepe Mujica criticized the PIT-CNT central labor union for its inaction during Luis Lacalle Pou’s government (2020-205), noting the absence of strikes and claiming the group only became active under the new leftist government of Yamandú Orsi, which took office on March 1.

Mujica argued that workers should defend their wages regardless of the ruling party, reproaching the union for its passive behavior under conservative rule.

PIT-CNT head Marcelo Abdala refuted Mujica’s claims, citing several general strikes, mobilizations, and two plebiscites against anti-popular laws since 2020.

“How many strikes did you see in the Cuqui [Lacalle Pou's nickname] government?” Mujica wondered. “I do not reproach them for demanding [better wages] today, I reproach them for the four years that they were on the floor without looking at reality,” he also explained.

He also dismissed the PIT-CNT’s proposal to tax big capital as unrealistic due to regional competition, like Paraguay’s tax exemptions, and expressed skepticism about national agreements in Uruguay’s polarized politics. He also dismissed the PIT-CNT’s proposal to tax big capital as unrealistic due to regional competition, like Paraguay’s tax exemptions, and expressed skepticism about national agreements in Uruguay’s polarized politics.

“I do not believe in magic,” Mujica insisted. “If you have a country in the region like Paraguay, which exempts practically everything, and you want to bring capital to invest in your country, you have a contradiction with legs. What the PIT-CNT says is very nice, but it clashes with reality,” he further argued. “It would be good if we thought more about trade between us.”

While Orsi's administration and the PIT-CNT are perceived by the opposition to be on the same page, given their common leftwing orientation, Mujica underlined that “they have no link.”

Mujica also admitted that politicians having the good of their country at heart was a fairy tale. “In Uruguay, the one who lost goes to the opposition with a club in his hand”, and “this talk of prioritizing the country is all just talk.” He also made it clear that he would not be Orsi's consultant, but if he has to give him an opinion, he will.

Meanwhile, Abdala noted that “life speaks for itself” and pointed out that “since 2020, several general strikes, permanent mobilizations of different types, and not to mention two plebiscites against anti-popular laws” were carried out.