Monday, June 1st 2026 - 04:58 UTC
“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.
