The ideological sectarianism of the Broad Front in Artigas reached a new level of absurdity. The departmental political table of the FA, dominated by ultra-ideologized communists, seeks to force the departure of Rodolfo Riani from the Open House, despite the fact that President Yamandú Orsi himself decided to keep him in office because of his exemplary management
.
Riani was initially appointed during the previous administration of Luis Lacalle Pou. His work at the head of the Open House — a device that reports directly to the Executive Branch and the National Drug Board — was so outstanding that he received letters of congratulations and awards for his comprehensive care model. The results were unquestionable: total openness, effective rehabilitation and a human approach that prioritized saving lives over
party bureaucracy.
When the new Broad Front government took office with Yamandú Orsi as president, the decision was clear and meritocratic: Orsi kept him in office. Not out of political affinity, but because his management was excellent. The center works as a unified team and the results are not discussed. All of Artigas knows that. Families of recovering addicts, users, neighbors and even historic voters of the Broad Front publicly acknowledge that Riani did first-rate work
.
But for the political table of the FA Artiguense that doesn't matter. At an extraordinary meeting, they decided to send a formal note to the national table of the Broad Front and to the Presidency of the Republic demanding the expulsion of Riani. The text is a manual of pure intolerance: they accuse him of being a “defender of Plan Condor”, “admirer of all military dictatorships” and “public offender of all FA authorities”. They don't mention a single time that their management has been bad. Not a single technical argument, not a single claim for results. The only reason is that Riani is “contrary to left-wing ideas” and has openly opposed FA policies and figures.
The delusion goes so far as to threaten “general resignation of the board, hospital management, MIDES and health department” if the designation is maintained. They prefer to leave a center that saves lives without direction than to tolerate someone who does not agree with their ideology. They border on human rights and publicly ensangle a worker just because of his
political thinking.
The citizens of Artigas reject this circus. On social media, Riani has around 90% support. “All the people of Artigas agree that this political table is the worst in history,” you hear in the streets. Even within the Broad Front itself, the uncle of the former mayor of Artigas, Francisco Ayala, publicly played for Riani. He defended him on social media, describing him as “a great person”. Even an MPP-FA historian recognizes that Riani is “the one” for the position because of his ability
and commitment.
This scandal reveals the true face of the Broad Front in the interior: a party that, when it is in the national government, is sometimes forced to be pragmatic (as Orsi did in keeping Riani), but which is still imprisoned by cave sectarianism. As the country faces addictions, poverty and lack of opportunities in the north, Artigas's political table prefers ideological purges and blackmail of collective resignation rather than accepting that an opponent can do a
good job.
Rodolfo Riani, with temperament, replied that during his years at the head of the CasaAbierta center he operated “with total openness” and without discrimination. “What came next was a decision by the political table that ended up cutting off a worker's rights because of their way of thinking,” he denounced
.
The ball is now in the court of the Presidency and the national leadership of the FA. Will they give in to the delirium of their local table or will they defend the meritocratic decision that Orsi himself has already made? The people of Artigua have already chosen: they support Riani and reject this new episode of intolerance. Because CasaAbierta is not owned by the Broad Front. It is a public health center that should serve Uruguayans who fight against addictions, regardless of the political license of the person who runs it. And Riani demonstrated, with facts, that she knows how to do it
.
