The president Yamandu Orsi apologized this Monday – through a video recorded and broadcast by the Presidency of the Republic – after the controversy generated when it became known that received a discount of US$ 25 thousand for the purchase of a van Hyundai Santa Fea few days before taking office.
“If any oversight body considers that I made a mistake, I will take responsibility.“said the president, in relation to the complaints that the Transparency and Public Ethics Board (Jutep) is studying against him in this case.
“I apologize if my actions offended or harmed the interests of any individual or group.“added the president and He was willing to pay the US$25,000 discount he received, “if it is understood” that he should do so.
Besides, The president clarified that the choice of the electric car that he used on March 1, 2020 at the presidential inauguration “is not linked at all” to the purchase he had made days before.
“What’s more, we started looking for other brand options that were not viable. And I was not personally in charge of this search,” he said.
He also explained that the choice of the Hyundai Santa Fe truck—which had a list price close to US$ 80 thousand, but bought for US$ 25 thousand less— was based on the “safety conditions” that the vehicle provided to fulfill the functions of the Presidency of the Republic, since it considered that “it was not right” to generate that expense for the State.
He said that the purchase was conditioned by the “economic possibilities” from then, taking into account the price of the vehicle and that it was going to deliver a truck of the same model but from 2020.
“Since the price that the automaker offered me was reasonable, I decided to make the purchase.“he said in the video, although he acknowledged that today there are “doubts about the how and why” of the entire purchasing process.
Despite acknowledging these doubts, the president assured that he always moved “with the truth” and that he presented all the documentation that was within his reach.
“There was never any other interest or negotiation than this opportunity to move in a safe car, without generating an extra expense to the State.“he stressed.
The complete message from Yamandú Orsi for his truck
“Dear compatriots
Given the facts of public notoriety, it is appropriate to address you by this means.
Before taking office, I decided that it was not right to generate the expense that would arise from the purchase of a vehicle by the Presidency, particularly at the beginning of the administration.
In those days, I was presented with the possibility of changing the car I had, a 2020 model, for the same make and model, but a 2024 version.
By meeting the security conditions, and by presenting the appropriate characteristics for the new challenge, I considered the proposal viable, conditioned, of course, to the economic possibilities that were within my reach.
Since the price that the automaker offered me was reasonable, I decided to make the purchase.
From the first day of my job in the Presidency, I traveled with my own car, for a year exclusively, and today alternating with another vehicle, from another brand and dealership that belongs to the Presidency.
The value of the operation is recorded in the invoice that I submitted, as well as my assets and income are presented in my sworn statement.
I know that today there are doubts about the how and why of this whole process.
The first thing I want to specify is that I have always moved with the truth, a truth that is reflected in all the documentation presented.
I always considered and consider that the truth is not drawn, because, if so, it becomes a lie.
And it is also true that I was able to access the new car because the price was reasonable, I admit, but there was never any other interest or negotiation than this opportunity to move in a safe car, without generating an extra expense for the State.
I took care of the cost and offered it for what I had to do, work.
The choice of the electric used on the day of our inauguration is not linked at all to this purchase.
What’s more, they began looking for other brand options that were not viable.
And I was not personally in charge of this search.
If any oversight body considers that I made a mistake, I will take responsibility.
And if it is understood that I must pay the difference between the actual cost and the current market value, I will do so without further delay.
Finally, I apologize if my actions offended or harmed the interests of any individual or group.
I will continue working for the good of my country and for the permanent encounter between Uruguayans.
With the truth and with the people.
Thank you so much”
