President Santiago Peña, during a visit to construction sites in Concepción on Wednesday, indirectly criticized the Judiciary's handling of the case of former Senator Erico Galeano, convicted of money laundering and criminal association in Operation "A Ultranza." Asked by journalists, Peña stated that "the yardstick of justice is not the same for everyone."
"Today we see a former senator from the Colorado Party convicted, but on the other hand we see mayors, former mayors, and authorities from another political party where the justice system is not very strict with them. What we need is for the yardstick to be the same," the head of state said.
Galeano was transferred on Wednesday to the National Center for Pretrial Detainees, at the former Tacumbú Penitentiary, where he will serve pretrial detention. Peña's statement comes amid tensions within the ruling party, as the former senator is a member of the Colorado Party, the president's party.
Asked whether he considered the conviction an injustice, Peña backed off and said he respects the independence of the Judiciary and the balance of powers. "No, no. I am not the Judiciary, I am the Executive. I respect the autonomy of this republican system, the balance of powers, each with its own responsibility," he said.
The statements were made during the presidential agenda to inspect works in the country's first department.