Public complaints about the management of resources in the Salto City Hall marked Andrés Lima's second term. The use of municipal trucks, the delivery of materials, and the promise of land for political gain were questioned, according to presentations and audio recordings circulated during 2023 and 2024. In addition, allegations arose regarding the irregular issuance of driver's licenses, leading to the resignation of officials in the Urban Mobility department.
On the other hand, opposition council members and a congressman filed criminal complaints for alleged patronage and abuse of office. These complaints described practices such as discretionary allocation of resources and appointments linked to political support. Lima rejected the accusations and attributed them to electoral disputes, while maintaining that there was no institutional endorsement for the irregular conduct.
Meanwhile, the Departmental Board analyzed some of these matters and decided to archive the proceedings without referring them to the courts. This decision was based on the fact that, according to the majority, there were insufficient grounds for taking the judicial step at that time. However, the political debate in Salto remained heated, and the issue remained on the public agenda.
At the same time, the Mayor's Office reported having initiated internal administrative investigations into the license issue. Following the resignations at the Transit Directorate, changes were made that also generated controversy due to alleged ties of trust between officials. Even so, no criminal charges were reported against Lima for these incidents.
Furthermore, audit reports examined the municipality's financial management during the administration. Objections to spending resolutions were recorded, and at the end of the term, the new administration pointed to cash flow difficulties and inherited debts. The local Broad Front countered that these statements were politically biased and did not reflect the full picture.
However, the main focus for the public was the pace of the main criminal case. According to public reports, the Prosecutor's Office made no progress with subpoenas or charges for several months following the formal complaint. In fact, there is no current conviction against Andrés Lima, and the case continued without visible progress toward key hearings.
In short, the case combines political accusations, administrative observations, and management controversies with one decisive factor: the lack of concrete fiscal measures. While awaiting a judicial ruling, the issue continues to impact local discussions and public assessments of recent departmental management.
