Senator Óscar Andrade warns of crime links to politics

During a visit to Minas, Senator Óscar Andrade called for an end to permanent electoral campaigning in favor of building political and social agreements. Andrade, representing the Lista 1001 parliamentary group, met with various social, union, and political leaders in the Lavalleja department.

Andrade highlighted several critical issues facing Uruguay, most notably the potential links between organized crime, drug trafficking, and political representation. He argued that preventing criminal activities from financing political activities is essential to protecting democracy.

Additionally, the senator addressed fiscal concerns, noting that Uruguay spends approximately 6.9 percent of its GDP on tax exemptions and fiscal spending, totaling roughly 5.4 billion dollars. He suggested that while political representation costs are often debated, the scale of tax expenditures remains a more significant and unexamined issue. He also emphasized the importance of ensuring citizens are aware of new laws, such as educational leave for parents, so that legal rights can be effectively exercised.