Uruguay’s ambassador to Sweden, Federico Perazza, has been suspended and recalled from Stockholm to Montevideo for “very serious” offenses.
An investigation concluded on September 20 that Perazza had used embassy funds for personal expenses, mistreated embassy officials, and misused the official car, driving it without a license. In addition to misusing other state resources, he also stopped living in the Ambassador’s residence without reporting it, which meant that the government continued to pay rent and operating expenses while he was not there.
The investigation found that Perazza’s use of the embassy’s credit card, and subsequent failure to reimburse the money he spent, was “systematic” and that he failed to repay the money “in a timely manner.”
He also failed to fulfill his “obligation of respect” by demonstrating “conduct contrary to a harmonious working atmosphere,” allegedly carrying out acts which were “particularly violent and hostile.”
In one instance, Perazza reportedly hit and broke pieces of furniture. He is also accused of putting female embassy employees in “inappropriate and uncomfortable” situations.
The investigation has reportedly been underway since February, following complaints by administrative officials. During the investigation, he was prohibited from entering the offices of the diplomatic mission in Stockholm, had to give up his embassy credit card, and was forbidden from managing the mission’s bank accounts.
Perazza has now been ordered to return to Montevideo by October 15, in a resolution which has been signed by President Luis Lacalle Pou and Foreign Minister Omar Paganini.
Perazza is the former Director of International Cooperation at the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has previously served as the ambassador to Paraguay.
Although his generally clean track record and admission of guilt were considered to be mitigating factors, his salary will be withheld from him for six months, and he faces a six-year ban from representing Uruguay abroad. The six-year ban consists of the ordinary two years which all diplomats must spend in Uruguay following an assignment abroad, but the extra four years are a punitive measure.
The Uruguayan Foreign Ministry is also planning to ensure that Perazza returns the money he used for personal expenses.
The Uruguayan embassy in Sweden also represents Uruguay diplomatically in Denmark and Norway.
When Perazza began his assignment in February 2022, he said the role represented “a great professional challenge” for him, and said he would “continue to expand and deepen the century-old relations between Uruguay and the Scandinavian world.”