100 days in: logbook of Yamandú Orsi's 'honest' government project

Last Sunday, June 8, El Observador published an interview with President Yamandú Orsi regarding the assessment of his first one hundred days in office.

When asked about what had been the best thing that happened to him during this period, he stated with his usual "fluency": "The best thing is the peace of mind and the determination that the team I have in government works well. I feel comfortable and calm seeing that the principle of 'being there, being there, and being there' is being fulfilled."

Below is a brief logbook of this journey toward honesty:

March 2, 2025 – Pontius Pilate

In October 2024, during the electoral campaign, Yamandú Orsi had, within his limitations, a glimpse of clarity: "If the scheme is binary, A or B, dictatorship or democracy, it's dictatorship," he said, referring to the regime of dictator Nicolás Maduro.

However, on March 2, 2025, the day after the presidential inauguration, Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin stated in an interview with El Mundo that Uruguay would not recognize either Nicolás Maduro or Gustavo González Urrutia as legitimate presidents of Venezuela, completely washing his hands of the matter.

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March 12, 2025 – Too much to start with, better to kick the can down the road

Orsi suspended for 180 days the implementation of the rodeo regulation, approved by the National Institute for Animal Welfare, to avoid problems with progressive animal rights activists and traditionalist gauchos.

March 25, 2025 – Fast-track project to save CASMU's friends

The government urgently sent to Parliament a bill that used public funds to rescue CASMU's financial crisis, granting it a trust fund of 56 million dollars.

April 15, 2025 – Do as I say, not as I do

The appointment of Cecilia Cairo, who had never regularized her housing, caused national and international embarrassment. She paid property tax as if it were vacant land and $89 in primary school tax for 20 years.

You may also be interested in... A devastating analysis of how the myth of the welfare state has served as a facade for institutionalized looting.

April 29, 2025 – Budget with your contribution, not mine

Rodrigo Arim did not want to be left behind: he had not regularized his vacation home and also did not pay the primary school tax. However, he was not asked to resign.

April 30, 2025 – You yes, you no: blatant nepotism

Alejandra Koch took office as vice president of the ANP and voted for the promotion of her husband and close associates without a prior selection process. She was forced to resign on May 2.

May 13, 2025 – In your honor, Old Man

In the context of Mujica's death, the purchase of 4,404 hectares (10,885 acres) for 32.5 million dollars was announced: "in honor of the Old Man" who attacked democracy.

May 20, 2025 – Pride is not enough, dear

Eduardo Viera took over as president of the National Colonization Institute without meeting the legal requirements. He was forced to resign on May 29.

You may also be interested in... How the Montevideo City Hall allocates public funds to finance "menstrual visibility" events.

May 30, 2025 – I want you on my team

The appointments of a "nationalist" and a "colorada" as ambassadors show that all political parties are the same.

June 3 – I sign, we'll see later

Orsi stated before António Guterres that Uruguay commits to signing and complying with whatever emerges from an international conference that has not yet taken place. A diplomatic embarrassment.

June 3, 2025 – Daddy State "takes care of you"

The ban on electronic tobacco products and the return of plain packaging was announced. The State decides for you what you can consume.

June 6, 2025 – Not for those here, yes for those there

Foreign Minister Lubetkin announced that he wants to bring young Palestinians to Uruguay to teach them agriculture, meanwhile young Uruguayans struggle with addictions without support.

In short: the government of "being there, being there, and being there"... and causing havoc.