The National Party assesses how to handle the Gonzalo Gómez case after an adviser’s conviction

The Montevideo councilman from the National Party, Gonzalo Gómez, asked to appear before the board of his political force to give explanations after the conviction of his adviser Pablo Leiva in Operation Trazador, la diaria reported. In that operation, more than 260 kilos of drugs, vehicles, weapons and money were seized.

According to la diaria, Pablo Leiva was convicted of money laundering and internal trafficking of ammunition to two years and six months in prison. In the same operation, his son, Lucio Leiva, who also served as Gómez’s adviser in the Departmental Board and was part of the National Party Youth, was detained, but later released and dropped from the investigation.

Sources on the party board told la diaria that they will wait for Gómez, who is traveling in China, to return before analyzing the situation. According to those accounts, the issue was not discussed at the latest session, nor was it decided to send him to the ethics committee. Senator Javier García, meanwhile, contacted Álvaro Delgado to convey that the best course was for the councilman to place himself at the committee’s disposal or, failing that, for the board to address the matter.

Also according to la diaria, within the party it is being considered that Gómez could first be received by the Political Affairs Committee. Regarding Lucio Leiva, one source said his judicial situation is closed for now, although that would not prevent a possible reopening. Another source added that, since he is not formally affiliated with the party, the board cannot make a decision about him and that the matter would remain within the Youth wing.

The president of the youth committee, Federico Casaretto, told la diaria that, as long as there is no judicial process in which Lucio Leiva is involved, they have nothing to analyze.

Outside the party structure, Senator Sebastián da Silva described the episode as very serious and said the National Party must distance itself from any closeness to that case. Regarding Lucio Leiva, he said that, although the courts cleared him, it would not hurt him to step aside.

Meanwhile, la diaria reported that police are investigating whether a collection office belonging to Jorge Gandini’s wife, Laura Scalabrino Muga, was used 13 months ago within the money-laundering scheme attributed to Pablo Leiva. Gandini denied that possibility at a press conference and said that neither he, nor his wife, nor the employees at the office received police or prosecutorial summonses or notifications.

The former senator also said he made himself available to the Prosecutor’s Office and the Public Transparency and Ethics Board. From that body, they told la diaria that they have not received complaints about the case so far and that a decree prevents them from intervening while the Prosecutor’s Office is acting in the criminal investigation.

At his press conference, Gandini said that, except for two advisers to Gómez recommended by his sector, the rest were chosen by the councilman. He stated that neither he nor his wife knows Pablo Leiva. By contrast, about Lucio Leiva he said he is a hardworking young man, a student and activist whom those who know him appreciate, and described him as “a very proper boy” who was caught up in the situation.

Gandini added that Gómez will appear before the National Party board and answer whatever corresponds. Asked about a possible appearance before the ethics committee, he replied that he did not know why he should attend, because, he said, he did nothing wrong and what exists is speculation.

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 original reporting on this event.