President Tabaré Vázquez is in the awkward position of having to choose between his Vice-President Raúl Sendic and his economy and finance minister, Danilo Astori. Vázquez would deny the choice is as stark as this but there is a growing sense that if either of his two closest political associates were let off their leash they would be at each other’s throats. The more radical wing of the ruling left-wing coalition Frente Amplio (FA) has rallied behind Sendic with regard to the massive debt amassed by the state energy company Administración Nacional de Combustibles, Alcoholes y Portland (Ancap) during his tenure as president (2008-2013). It blames the economy and finance ministry, controlled by Astori in person or by proxy since the FA came to power in 2005. Astori is the de facto leader of the FA’s moderate wing, which has joined the political opposition in questioning Sendic’s management of Ancap.End of preview - This article contains approximately 1289 words.
Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article
Not a Subscriber?
Choose from one of the following options