MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

La oposición uruguaya acusa a Orsi de “tomar el pelo” tras su respuesta sobre el descuento de la camioneta

“In general, when there are discounts I dive in headfirst,” Orsi said on Saturday

The main opposition forces of Uruguay coincided on Sunday in questioning the public response of President Yamandú Orsi to the discount of approximately USD 25,000 he obtained in the purchase of a zero-kilometre Hyundai Santa Fe SUV a few days before assuming the presidency on 1 March 2025. The Board of Transparency and Public Ethics (Jutep) will review the transaction after receiving three formal citizen complaints, in an episode that is eroding one of the main political assets of the president, associated with an image of transparency and austerity.

“In general, when there are discounts I dive in headfirst,” Orsi said on Saturday in the city of Salto, where he had travelled for the inauguration of the Northern Horticultural Centre. The president argued he makes mistakes “every day” but denied having erred in the purchase of the vehicle, referring the final decision on the legality of the transaction to the “oversight bodies.” When asked about other possible discounts received by virtue of his office, the president said he takes advantage of some “at the corner supermarket.” The transaction had come to light following a report by the weekly Qué Pasa, complemented by Radio Carve, which revealed the inconsistencies between Orsi's most recent sworn statement filed before Jutep and the Oliva Automotores invoice recording the effective payment of USD 54,000 for a vehicle whose market value was around USD 79,800.

The presidential response intensified the reaction from opposition benches. National Party senator Sebastián Da Silva said on social media that the comment “destroys the institution of President of the Republic” and that the leader “is mocking the entire population.” Colorado Party senator Robert Silva added that “when the explanation becomes a joke, the problem stops being the discount and becomes the lack of awareness of the office.” Independent Party leader Pablo Mieres said “nothing like this has ever been seen.” The Deputy Secretary of the Presidency, Jorge Díaz, has so far been the only top-tier government official to publicly defend the president, arguing that at the time of the purchase Orsi was not yet a serving public official —eight days remained until his inauguration— and that no link has been demonstrated between the discount and the exercise of office functions.

The episode is part of a picture of growing wear for the ruling coalition. The latest polls have registered declines in government approval, with disapproval levels now exceeding support. Eduardo Botinelli, director of the Factum consultancy, warned El País that the “tangible” character of the episode —the purchase of a vehicle, easily understandable for citizens— may accumulate over time with other incidents. Ignacio Zuasnabar, director of Equipos Consultores, qualified the dimension of the impact, noting that the episode resonates more in “published opinion” among political and media actors than among average citizens. The Uruguayan presidency has yet to specify how much the dealership recognized for the 2020 Hyundai delivered as partial payment, nor the exact amount transferred electronically by Orsi in the transaction.