Uruguay
Country in South America, on the Atlantic coast, bounded N by Brazil
and W by Argentina.
Government
The 1966 constitution provides for a president who is head of state
and head of government, elected by universal suffrage for a five-year
term, and a two-chamber legislature, comprising a senate and a federal
chamber of deputies. The president is assisted by a vice president and
presides over a council of ministers. The senate has up to 30 members
and the chamber of deputies 99, all elected for a five-year term by
universal suffrage through a system of proportional representation.
The voting system ensures that there are at least two deputies representing
each of the republic's 19 departments.
History
The area was settled by both Spain 1624 and Portugal 1680, but Spain
secured the whole area in the 18th century. In 1814 Spanish rule was
overthrown under the leadership of José Artigas, dictator until driven
out by Brazil 1820. Disputed between Argentina and Brazil 1825-28, Uruguay
declared its independence 1825, although it was not recognized by its
neighbours until 1853. The names of Uruguay's two main political parties,
the liberal Colorado (the Reds) and the conservative Blanco (the Whites),
are derived from the colours of the flags carried in the civil war 1836.
The assumption of power by General Vinancia Flores 1865 led to a period
of uninterrupted rule by the Colorado party until the next century,
though civil war and revolutionary upheavals were frequent. After the
civil war of 1896, the Colorados struck a deal with the Blancos that
gave the latter control of six of the country's 18 departments. This
political stability encouraged large-scale foreign investment in livestock
farming and infrastructural development.
The rule of José Battle 1903-07 and 1911-15 brought peace and prosperity.
Uruguay gained a reputation as a modern, democratic nation, Latin America's
first welfare state. From 1951 to 1966 there was a collective leadership
called `collegiate government´, and then a new constitution was adopted
and a single president elected, the Blanco candidate, Jorge Pacheco
Areco. His presidency was marked by high inflation, labour unrest, and
growing guerrilla activity by the Tupamaros. Repressive regime In 1972
Pacheco was replaced by the Colorado candidate, Juan Maria Bordaberry
Arocena. Within a year the Tupamaros had been crushed, and all other
left-wing groups banned. Bordaberry now headed a repressive regime,
under which normal democratic institutions had been dissolved. In 1976
he refused any movement towards constitutional government, was deposed
by the army, and Dr Aparicio Méndez Manfredini was made president.
Despite promises to return to democratic government, the severe repression
continued, and political opponents were imprisoned.
In 1981 the deteriorating economy made the army anxious to return to
constitutional government, and a retired general, Gregorio Alvarez Armellino,
was appointed president for an interim period. Discussions between the
army and the main political parties failed to agree on the form of constitution
to be adopted, and civil unrest, in the shape of strikes and demonstrations,
grew. By 1984 antigovernment activity had reached a crisis point, and
eventually all the main political leaders signed an agreement for a
`Programme of National Accord´. The 1966 constitution, with some modifications,
was restored, and in 1985 a general election was held. The Colorado
Party won a narrow majority, and its leader, Dr Julio Maria Sanguinetti,
became president. The army stepped down, and by 1986 President Sanguinetti
was presiding over a government of national accord in which all the
main parties - Colorado, Blanco, and the left-wing Broad Front - were
represented.
In the November 1989 elections Luis Lacalle Herrera (Blanco) was narrowly
elected president. After his inauguration in 1990, he concentrated
his efforts on economic problems, but his `market- orientated´
policies were widely criticized and provoked strike action. Julio
Maria Sanguinetti, of the Colorado Party, was elected to a second
term as president November 1994.
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