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1994-05-02
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<text>
<title>
Uruguay: History
</title>
<article>
<hdr>
Background Notes: Uruguay
History
</hdr>
<body>
<p> In early Uruguayan history, Spain, Portugal, and later
Brazil and Argentina struggled for control of the area. In 1811,
Jose Gervasio Artigas, Uruguay's national hero, launched
Uruguay's revolt against Spain and later led an unsuccessful
attempt to gain autonomy within a regional federation with
Argentina. In 1821, Uruguay was annexed by Brazil; however, in
1825, Uruguayan patriots declared independence from Portuguese
rule and, with the support of Argentine troops, defeated
Brazilian forces. Independence came in 1828. The new nation's
first constitution was adopted July 18, 1830.
</p>
<p> Batlle y Ordonez, president from 1903 to 1907 and again from
1911 to 1915, set the pattern for Uruguay's modern political
development. He established widespread political, social, and
economic reforms, such as an extensive welfare program,
government participation in many facets of the economy, and a
plural executive. Many of these programs continue today.
</p>
<p> In 1973, amid increasing economic and political turmoil, the
armed forces closed the Congress and established a civilian-
military regime. A new constitution drafted by the military was
rejected in a November 1980 plebiscite. Following the
plebiscite, the armed forces announced a new plan for return to
civilian rule, with national elections scheduled in 1984.
Colorado Party leader Julio Maria Sanguinetti won the 1984
presidential election with 31.4% of the vote.
</p>
<p> In the 1989 presidential election, Blanco Party leader Luis
Alberto Lacalle gained the presidency with 27% of the vote.
Since taking office on March 1, 1990, President Lacalle has
concentrated on economic and social reform programs. The
Lacalle administration is vigorously pursuing budget deficit
reduction, foreign debt reduction, privatization of state
enterprises, civil service reform, and education and labor
reform. To achieve these ambitious goals, the Lacalle
administration has sought the legislative cooperation of the
Colorado Party by appointing several Colorado Party members to
his cabinet. He also has continued the previous government's
policies of reserving some directorship positions in the
autonomous state entities for opposition parties.
</p>
<p> In the 1989 election, the Leftist Broad Front Coalition won
the seat of the Intendente (Mayor) of Montevideo. Next to the
presidency, this is the most important elective post in the
country, as Montevideo contains 44% of the country's
population. The Communist Party/Socialist Party/Radical Left
coalition hopes to use this 5-year term as a springboard for
future electoral gains at the national level.
</p>
<p> Uruguay's economic difficulties, and the Lacalle
administration's privatization and the labour reform proposals
have led to increased tension between the Labour Federation,
the PIT-CNT, and the national government. The tempo of labor
protest, which had declined after the first year of the
Sanguinetti administration, rose with the approach of the 1989
elections and will likely increase in the short-term as the
Lacalle administration's economic program progresses through
parliament. The Lacalle administration is seeking through new
labor legislation to regulate what currently is an almost
unlimited right to strike, and to require that strikes be
approved by a secret, obligatory vote of the membership.
</p>
<p>Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs,
June 1988.
</p>
</body>
</article>
</text>