A mere 22 months after taking power, the administration of Juan Carlos Varela already looks worn out. That is hardly surprising, given the never-ending series of corruption scandals, cases of abuse of power as well as broken electoral promises that have characterised the current government.
Corruption has been endemic, and has touched multiple government institutions, ranging from the Security Ministry, the Maritime Authority, the Education Ministry, the Housing Ministry, all way to the Programme of National Assistance (DAS) and the Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries (IMA).
The Public Ministry has often acted belatedly and only following pressure from an outraged public opinion. A case in point was the contract for the purchase of construction equipment that the Housing Ministry awarded directly to Airco S.A., a company belonging to Pedro "Peter" Vallarino, a close personal friend of Mr. Varela. The investigation launched by the PM mentiones housing minister Mario Etchelecu, DAS director Rafael Stanziola and Mr. Vallarino himself: however, the PM has provided no progress update since its launch back in February. This is in spite of damning evidence provided by the anti-corruption zar.
Many other inquiries also show no apparent sign of progress. In the Education Ministry, allegations of falsified procurement contracts have seen no material investigation; the officials involved were known to be very close collaborators of the education minister herself, Marcela Pardes. Similarly, at the IMA, the comptroller general has produced evidence of a $6m hole in the procurement of foodstuff during administation of its first director, Edwin Cardenas.
The only judicial case that has seen its logical end has been that of Grimaldo Cordoba, who practiced medicine without possessing the necessary credentials. Mr. Cordoba was sentenced to 42 months' detention, commutable to a lesser punishment.
