Nationalist Senator Sebastián Da Silva offered a public apology to his Broad Front counterpart, Nicolás Viera , on Friday, following the tense exchange and insults that occurred during the questioning of Livestock Minister Alfredo Fratti last Wednesday in the Senate. The gesture took place live during an interview on Radio Universal , where Da Silva acknowledged that his reaction had been excessive and that the impact of his words went beyond the political debate.
“I went to the grass”: Da Silva’s recognition
During the radio interview, Da Silva admitted that his outburst was a result of the tension of the moment:
"Passion, that's what gets into these things. Both Senator Viera and I were led to the dark side... we went down the drain, we overturned," he said.
The Nationalist legislator asserted that, upon learning the impact his remarks had on Viera's family, he understood the magnitude of the damage. "Now I've put my face to the pain. Man, I apologize. I'm not here to ruin anyone's life," he stated.
The personal impact behind the crossing
Da Silva said he was particularly moved by the impact the episode had on Viera's partner and son. "You don't realize these things. I realize them with my children, but this hit me hard. Disputes between us can affect the most important things," he said.
Although he acknowledged that there is no friendship between the two, he maintained that the apology is not intended to avoid political consequences: "It's not to avoid Article 115 or anything like that. We're all grown-ups. What I don't want is to screw up other people's lives."
Nicolás Viera's response
For his part, Viera accepted the apologies and emphasized the importance of such gestures in improving political coexistence in the Senate:
"There's no problem with backtracking, admitting mistakes, and accepting apologies. This should help us improve our work because people expect a lot from us."
The Broad Front senator insisted that the incident should serve to improve the functioning of Parliament and stressed that political discussions should not turn into personal attacks.
Final reflection and commitment
At the end of the interview, Da Silva reiterated his regret and said that as a father of three, he now better understands what his colleague felt: "With my heart in my mouth because of the things they say about me, I put myself in your place. I apologize."
This episode leaves a sign of political maturity, in which the recognition of errors and mutual respect appear as necessary steps for a healthier parliamentary debate.
