The National Party awaits Gonzalo Gómez’s version and debates what to do with Lucio Leiva

The National Party expects to hear in the coming days from Montevideo councilman Gonzalo Gómez, after it became known that one of his advisers was convicted of money laundering and internal trafficking of ammunition in the framework of Operación Trazador, according to la diaria.

According to that outlet, the case also reached Lucio Leiva, Gómez’s adviser, son of the convicted Pablo Leiva and vice president of the PN Montevideo Departmental Youth Commission. He was initially detained, but later was dropped from the investigation. However, his situation sparked internal debate because he lived in the house where the evidence was found that led to his father’s conviction.

Still according to la diaria, Gómez, who was in China taking part in a seminar, publicly defended Lucio Leiva’s innocence and apologized to his party and his faction for having had as an adviser a person linked to drug trafficking. The councilman has already contacted the chairman of the white party board, Álvaro Delgado, to ask to appear before that body and give explanations when he returns to the country.

Within the PN, different views emerged on how to proceed. Senator Sebastián da Silva said the party should not act timidly and considered that it would not hurt Lucio Leiva to step aside, la diaria reported.

By contrast, party leader Santiago Gutiérrez told that outlet that it is still too early to take a position, since not all those involved have been heard and the courts have not summoned any of them. In the same vein, the president of the PN National Youth Commission, Tomás Casaretto, said no decision will be made until Gómez is heard in person and stressed that neither he nor Lucio Leiva are part of the Prosecutor’s Office investigation.

Álvaro Viviano, a member of the board, told la diaria that he is convinced both Gómez and Jorge Gandini are honorable people, although he warned that the case brings negative consequences for them and for the party. Regarding the councilman, he said there was a mistake in bringing in a person without properly checking his background, his way of life and his movements.

Viviano also said Gómez gave a good signal by making himself available, but believed he could have taken a more forceful measure, such as asking for leave from the board or requesting to be heard by the Ethics Commission. Regarding Lucio Leiva, he said his situation creates doubts and discomfort and that, although there is no need to rush, the party should not let the issue pass.

The internal debate comes as there were also repercussions over Gandini. According to la diaria, the Police are investigating a possible link between the collection office of the politician’s wife and the money-laundering scheme led by Pablo Leiva. The politician responded with a press conference. In addition, the Single Port Workers and Related Trades Union expressed concern over reports linking him to the case, spoke of a situation of institutional gravity and called for his resignation while the investigations continue.

For his part, Representative Juan Martín Rodríguez said on FM del Sol, cited by la diaria, that the political assessment became complicated because Gómez was absent from the country and considered that he should have returned immediately, although he acknowledged that he made himself available to the party. Regarding Lucio Leiva, he noted that the Penal Code exempts children and parents from denouncing one another, although he clarified that this does not apply to accomplices. He also considered it appropriate for him to temporarily step away from his responsibilities in the Montevideo Youth Commission while the investigative process moves forward.

Sources

• La Diaria

About this note. Written by El Notero with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not do its own reporting on this fact.