Uruguay Overview Country Overview Uruguay is one of the smallest of the South American republics. It is bounded to the north by Brazil, to the southeast by the Atlantic, and is separated from Argentina in the west and south by the River Uruguay. The landscape is made up of hilly meadows broken by streams and rivers. There is a string of beaches along the coast. The country enjoys 500km (300 miles) of fine sandy beaches on the Atlantic and the Rio de la Plata, woods, mountains, hot springs, hotels, casinos, art festivals and numerous opportunities for sport and entertainment. Montevideo, the capital, is the country’s natural trading centre. There are nine major bathing beaches, the best of which are Playas and Miramar. The Atlantic coast resorts are popular from December to April, and have fine beaches. Local dishes include asado (barbecued beef) and bife de chorrizo (rump steak). Theatre, ballet and symphonic concerts are staged in Montevideo from March to January. General Information Area: 176,215 sq km (68,037 sq miles). Population: 3,313,000 (1999). Population Density: 18.8 per sq km. Capital: Montevideo. Population: 1,344,839 (1996). GEOGRAPHY: Uruguay is one of the smallest of the South American republics. It is bounded to the north by Brazil, to the southeast by the Atlantic, and is separated from Argentina in the west and south by the River Uruguay, which widens out into the Rio de la Plata estuary. The landscape is made up of hilly meadows broken by streams and rivers. There is a string of beaches along the coast. Most of the country is grazing land for sheep and cattle. Montevideo, the most southern point of the nation, accommodates more than half of the population. About 90 per cent of the land is suitable for agriculture, although only 12 per cent is used in this way. Uruguay is known as the ‘Oriental Republic’ because it stands on the eastern bank of the Rio de la Plata. Government: Republic since 1967. Gained independence from Spain in 1828. Head of State and Government: President Jorge Batlle Ibáñez since 1999. Language: Spanish. Some English is spoken in tourist resorts. Religion: Roman Catholic is the predominant religion. Time: GMT - 3. Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Continental flat three-pin or round two-pin plugs. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available to Uruguay, but callers from Uruguay may experience difficulty, although direct dialling is possible. Country code: 598. Outgoing international code: 00. The local telephone service, which is operated by the Government, is generally adequate, but long-distance calls may take a considerable time to be put through. Mobile telephone AMPS network operated by Antel (website: www.antel.com.uy). No GSM network exists at present. Fax Some hotels have facilities. Internet ISPs include Movinet (website: www.movinet.com.uy) and Uruguay Net (website: www.uruguaynet.com.uy). E-mail can be accessed from Internet cafes in main urban areas. Telegram These can be sent worldwide through ITT Comunicaciones, Mundiales SA, Italcable and Western Telegraph Co Ltd. Post Post offices open 0800-1800 (main post office in the old city, Montevideo: 0900-1900). Airmail to Europe takes three to five days. Press All newspapers are in Spanish; the most popular dailies include El Diario, El País and La Mañana. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 17.79 15.19 12.10 5.975 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 13.79 9.455 6.130 5.995 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes No Yes Australian Yes No Yes Canadian Yes No Yes USA Yes No Yes OtherEU Yes No Yes Japanese Yes No Yes PASSPORTS: Valid passport required by all except: (a) nationals of Uruguay who arrive from Argentina, Brazil, Chile or Paraguay with a national identity card; (b) nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay and Peru with a national identity card for stays of up to 90 days. VISAS: Required by all except the following for stays of up to three months: (a) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above; (b) nationals of Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Seychelles, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey and Venezuela. Types of visa and cost: Tourist: £27. Business and Tourist: Enquire at Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy) for cost as it may vary with the exchange rate. Validity: Visas are for stays of up to three months, except for visas issued to Malaysian nationals which are valid for one month. Extensions for a further three months are possible; apply at the Immigration Office in Uruguay. Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) One passport-size photo. (c) Completed application form. (d) References in Uruguay (name, address and phone number) or hotel booking confirmation. (e) Return ticket and travel documentation (including the flight number and the dates of arrival and departure). (f ) Postal applications should be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. (g) For business visits, a letter from the company in the country of origin. Working days required: 14. Temporary residence: Enquire at Embassy. Money Currency: Peso Uruguayo (urug$) = 100 centécimos. Notes are in the denominations of urug$1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of urug$10, 5, 2 and 1. Currency exchange: Visitors are advised to buy local currency at banks and exchange shops, as hotels tend to give unfavourable rates. Inflation in Uruguay, though less severe than in other Latin American countries, leads to frequent fluctuations in the exchange rate. Credit & debit cards: MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa are the most commonly used. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. ATMs may reject US or European credit cards. Travellers cheques: Sterling travellers cheques can only be changed at The Bank of London & South America; visitors are therefore advised to carry US Dollar travellers cheques (US$50 and US$100 denominations only). Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import or export of either local or foreign currency. It is advisable not to change more than needed in order to avoid delays and losses when changing local currency back into foreign currency. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Peso Uruguayo against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 25.28 41.44 43.49 45.14 $1.00= 17.35 27.25 27.50 28.35 Banking hours: Mon-Fri 1300-1700. Duty Free The following items may be imported into Uruguay without incurring customs duty by persons over 18 years of age (50 per cent of these allowances for persons under 18 years of age): (a) Residents of Uruguay arriving from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile or Paraguay (maximum four times a year): 100 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1l of alcohol; 2kg of foodstuffs. Total value of exempted imports not to exceed US$30. (b) All other nationals: 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 500g of tobacco; 2l of alcohol; 5kg of foodstuffs. Total value of exempted imports not to exceed US$150. Public Holidays Dec 25 2002 Christmas Day. Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Jan 6 Epiphany. Mar 3-4 Carnival. Apr 17 Maundy Thursday. Apr 18 Good Friday. Apr 21 Landing of the 33 Patriots. May 1 Labour Day. May 18 Battle of Las Piedras. Jun 19 Birth of General Artigas. Jul 18 Constitution Day. Aug 25 National Independence Day. Oct 12 Discovery of America. Nov 2 All Souls’ Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Jan 6 Epiphany. Feb 23-24 Carnival. Apr 8 Maundy Thursday. Apr 9 Good Friday. Apr 19 Landing of the 33 Patriots. May 1 Labour Day. May 18 Battle of Las Piedras. Jun 19 Birth of General Artigas. Jul 18 Constitution Day. Aug 25 National Independence Day. Oct 12 Discovery of America. Nov 2 All Souls’ Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Note: Many businesses close during Carnival Week and during Tourist Week (Easter). Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No No Cholera No No Typhoid and Polio 1 N/A Malaria No N/A 1: There is a slight risk of typhoid fever but no cases of polio have been reported in Uruguay in recent years. Vaccination against typhoid is advised. Food & drink: Tap water is considered safe to drink. Drinking water outside main cities and towns may be contaminated and sterilisation is advisable. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat. Health care: Uruguay has an excellent medical service. Private health insurance is recommended. Travel - International AIR: Uruguay’s national airline is Primeras Líneas Uruguayas de Navegación Aérea (PLUNA) (PU) (website: www.pluna.com.uy), which operates flights to various destinations in Brazil and Argentina. Approximate flight times: From Montevideo to London is 15 hours 15 minutes (including 1 hour 30 minutes stopover in Madrid) and to New York is 14 hours. International airports: Montevideo (MVD) (Carrasco) is 19km (12 miles) from the city (travel time – 35 minutes). There is an airport bus to the city centre. Taxis are also available. Facilities include a duty-free shop (0700-last flight), post office, restaurants, car hire and a bank/bureau de change (0900-2100). Air passes: The Mercosur Airpass: Valid within Argentina, Brazil, Chile (except Easter Island), Paraguay and Uruguay. Participating airlines include Aerolineas Argentinas (AR) (however, flights on this airline cannot be combined with any others, as it has no agreements and its tickets are not accepted by other airlines), Austral (AU), LAN-Chile (LA), LAPA (MJ), Pluna (PU), Transbrasil Airlines (TR) and VARIG (RG) with the subsidiary airlines of Nordeste (JH) and Rio Sul (SL). The pass can only be purchased by passengers who live outside South America, who have a return ticket. Only eight flight coupons are allowed with a maximum of four coupons for each country and is valid for seven to a maximum of 30 days. At least two countries must be visited (to a maximum of five) and the flight route cannot be changed. A maximum of two stopovers is allowed per country. The Visit South America Pass: Must be bought outside South America in country of residence and allows unlimited travel to 36 cities in the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile (except Easter Island), Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Participating airlines include LAN-Chile (LA), Aer Lingus (EI), American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA), Cathay Pacific (CX), Finnair (AY), IBERIA (IB) and Qantas (QF). A minimum of three flights must be booked, with no maximum; the maximum stay is 60 days, with no minimum, and prices depend on the amount of flight zones covered. For both air passes children under 12 years of age are entitled to a 33 per cent discount and infants (under two years old) only pay ten per cent of the adult fare. For further details contact one of the participating airlines. Departure tax: US$12 is levied on international departures (US$6 to Buenos Aires). SEA: Montevideo, the main international port, is served by cargo lines from the USA and Europe. There is a night-ferry service from Buenos Aires to Montevideo (travel time – 10 hours). High-speed ferries (called ‘planes’ due to their speed) also operate between Montevideo and Buenos Aires (travel time – 2 hours 30 minutes) (website: www.buquebus.com). There are also services from Colonia (160km/100 miles west of Montevideo) to Buenos Aires by ferry and a thrice-daily hydrofoil service. A port departure tax may be levied. ROAD: Coaches and buses travel regularly between Brazil and Uruguay – these are modern coaches with bar, TV, WC and radio. The travel time between Montevideo and Porto Alegre (Brazil) is 14 hours; to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) is 59 hours. Buses run by COT depart weekly for Asunción and Iguazú Falls in Paraguay, while other services, also weekly, link Montevideo with Santiago, Rio de Janeiro and Florianópolis in Brazil and with northern and southern regions of Argentina. Travel - Internal AIR: The only internal flights available since TAMU, a branch of the Uruguayan Air Force, suspended its services, are the domestic legs of international flights from Punta del Este via Montevideo to Brazil. SEA/RIVER: There are no scheduled boat services along the principal rivers but the River Uruguay is navigable from Colonia to Salto, and the Río Negro (flowing across the country from northeast to northwest) is navigable as far as the port of Mercedes. RAIL: A few local services run between villages. These are not usually used by tourists and are under threat of closure. ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. There are 45,000km (28,000 miles) of roads in Uruguay, 90 per cent of which are paved or otherwise improved for all-weather use. Bus: The bus service is good: two main bus lines (COPSA and COT) provide services throughout the country, connecting all towns and the Brazilian border points. Car hire: Available in Montevideo. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is not legally required but recommended. A temporary licence to drive in Uruguay, valid for 90 days, must be obtained from the Town Hall (Municipio). URBAN: Extensive bus services operate in Montevideo and the suburbs. There are flat fares for the central area and suburban services. Metered taxis are available in all cities and from the airport. Drivers carry a list of fares. A surcharge is made for each item of baggage and between 2400-0600. Within city limits, taxis may be hired by the hour at an agreed rate. Accommodation HOTELS: There are numerous first-class hotels in Montevideo and along Uruguay’s coastal resorts, where rates are usually a little higher. It is essential to book during the summer and during carnival week in Montevideo. There are several lower-priced hotels in the city for more basic accommodation. For more information, contact the Asociación de Hoteles y Restaurantes del Uruguay (AHRU), Gutierrez Ruiz 123, Montevideo (tel: (2) 902 3990 or 908 0141; fax: (2) 908 2317; e-mail: ahru@montevideo.com.uy; website: www.ahru.org). Grading: Three categories according to price and standard. Prices tend to be higher during the tourist season. There is a 23 per cent value-added tax in Montevideo. At the beaches, many hotels offer only US-plan terms (full board). CAMPING: Allowed at numerous designated sites throughout the country; elsewhere it is necessary to get police permission. YOUTH HOSTELS: Uruguay is a member of the International Youth Hostel Federation and there are several youth hostels throughout Uruguay offering cheap accommodation, run by Hostelling International Uruguay, Pablo de Maria 1583, Ex 008, PO Box 10680, CP 11200, Montevideo (tel: ((2) 400 0581 or 400 4245; fax (2) 400 1326; website: www.hosteluruguay.org). Introduction Uruguay is increasingly drawing more visitors each year, and for good reason. The country enjoys 500km (300 miles) of fine sandy beaches on the Atlantic and the Río de la Plata, woods, hills, hot springs, hotels, casinos, art festivals and numerous opportunities for sport and entertainment. MONTEVIDEO: The capital contains more than half of Uruguay’s population and is the country’s natural trading centre. There are nine major bathing beaches, the best of which are Malvin, Pocitos, Carrasco and Miramar. The suburbs have restaurants, nightclubs and hotels. Montevideo’s architecture combines colonial, European and modern influences. The old inner city, known as the Ciudad Vieja (Old Town), is a small peninsula surrounded by the sea near the metropolitan port. The Cabildo (the old town council hall), the Cathedral, the Plaza Matriz, the Plaza Zabala and the Port Market are fine examples of Uruguay’s colonial past. The Old Town, also a centre for antique shops, contrasts dramatically with the rising number of modern buildings and office blocks surrounding the area. The most interesting entrance to the city is via the Puerta de la Ciudadela (Door to the Citadel), part of the old wall that still surrounds Montevideo leading on, via the Plaza Independencia, to the popular and lively city centre. ELSEWHERE: To the west of Montevideo is Colonia Suiza (‘The Swiss Colony’), reached by hydrofoil from the capital. It has a delightful old quarter. Other beach resorts along the Uruguayan coast include Atlántida, Piriápolis and the fishing port of Paloma. Carmelo on the River Uruguay and Mercedes on the Río Negro (a tributary) are amongst the many picturesque river ports; further up the Uruguay is Salto, one of the country’s largest cities. Fray Bentos, near Mercedes, gave its name to the famous processed meat company. The journey north through Florida and Durazno to Tacuarembó on the Brazilian border takes one through the heart of the country’s agricultural lands. The beautiful hills surrounding the town of Minas are well worth a visit, as is Colonia del Sacramento, which has been rebuilt in its original 18th-century style. Resorts: The Atlantic coast resorts are popular from December to April, and have fine beaches. Most fashionable of these is Punta del Este, 145km (90 miles) from Montevideo. It has two main beaches and offers water-skiing, fishing, surfing and yachting; there is also a golf course. Villas and chalets can be rented in the wooded area on the edge of town. Two nearby islands, Gorniti and Lobos, are worth a visit. Sport & Activities Watersports: Windsurfing and water-skiing are popular along the coast. Boating is a favourite Uruguayan pastime. Santiago Vazquez on the St Lucia River is one of several popular centres. Arrangements can be made for hire of motor or sailing boats in Montevideo and elsewhere. There are plenty of places to swim when the weather permits. The ‘metropolitan’ beaches (from Ramírez and including Pocitos) tend to be dirty and unsuitable for bathing. Those along the Atlantic coast are, however, clean and are suitable for swimming. Many of the resort areas in the interior have swimming pools. The mineral baths at Minas are worth a visit. Fishing: There are three fishing areas: along the Rio de la Plata from Colonia to Piriápolis for surf-casting; from Piriápolis to Punta del Este (considered one of the best fishing areas in the world); and along the Atlantic Coast towards the Brazilian border. Boats and tackle can be hired in fishing clubs in Fray Bentos, Montevideo, Mercedes, Paysandú, Punta del Este and Salto. Golf: There is a municipal course in Montevideo, plus clubs at the Victoria Plaza Hotel and Punta del Este Country Club. Spectator sports: There are two main horseracing tracks: Hipodromo de Maronas (Saturday and Sunday afternoon); and Las Piedras (Thursday, Saturday and Sunday). Football is the most popular spectator sport; matches are played regularly throughout the country. Dune walking is increasingly popular in Cabo Palonia. Social Profile Food & Drink: The majority of Uruguayan restaurants are parrilladas (grill-rooms), which specialise in the country’s most famous traditional dish, the asado (barbecued beef). Beef is part of most meals and comes in many forms, including the asado de tira (ribs), pulpa (boneless beef), lomo (fillet steak) and bife de chorrizo (rump steak). Costillas (chops) and milanesa (a veal cutlet) are also popular, usually eaten with mixed salad or chips. Chivito is a sandwich filled with slices of meat, lettuce and egg. Other local dishes are puchero (beef with vegetables, bacon, beans and sausages), pizza, pies, barbecued pork, grilled chicken in wine, cazuela (stew), usually served with mondongo (tripe), seafood, morcilla dulce (sweet black sausage made from blood, orange peel and walnuts) and morcilla salada (salty sausage). Desserts include dulce de leche (milk sweets), chaja (ball-shaped sponge cake filled with cream and jam), mossini (cream sponge), lemon pie and yemas (crystallised egg yolk). Table service is usual in restaurants. Cafes or bars have either table and/or counter service. Uruguayan wines are of good quality. A popular drink is medio-medio (half dry white wine and half champagne). Beers are very good. Imported beverages are widely available. Local spirits are caña, grappa and locally distilled whisky and gin. There are no set licensing hours. Nightlife: Theatre, ballet and symphonic concerts are staged in Montevideo from March to January. Tango is nearly as popular as in Argentina, and the ‘La Cuparsita’ club in Montevideo fills up quickly. There are discos in the Carrasco area. There are several dinner-dance places in Montevideo. Large Montevideo hotels have good bars. When there is music for dancing, the price of drinks increases quite considerably. There are also several casinos. Shopping: Special purchases include suede jackets, amethyst jewellery, and paintings. The Tristan Narvaja Market is famous for its antiques and there are many antique shops in the Old Town. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200 and 1400-1900, Sat 0900-1230. Special Events: The principal festival is the national Carnival Week (starting Mar 3 in 2003). Although this ‘fiesta’ is officially only for the Monday and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday, most shops and businesses close for the entire week. Houses and streets are appropriately decorated and humorous shows are staged at open-air theatres. For a complete list of special events, contact the Ministerio de Turismo (see Contact Addresses section). Social Conventions: Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. Uruguayans are very hospitable and like to entertain both at home and in restaurants. Normal courtesies should be observed. Smoking is not allowed in cinemas or theatres or on public transport. Tipping: Ten per cent when no service charge is added. Taxi drivers expect a tip. Business Profile Economy: Uruguay is one of the more prosperous Latin American countries. The economy is traditionally agricultural, with beef and wool being the most important products; dairy exports to other Latin American countries are substantial. Crop farming is widespread, producing mostly cereals, rice, fruit and vegetables. The largest component of the Uruguayan economy is manufacturing, which is concentrated in oil and coal-derived products, chemicals, textiles, transport equipment and leather products. The oil and coal, both for manufacturing and energy consumption (the latter supplemented by Uruguay’s own hydroelectricity stations), are imported. Mining is confined to small-scale extraction of building materials, industrial minerals and some gold. After some difficulties in the early part of the decade, which saw the Government accept an IMF-imposed austerity programme, the Uruguayan economy performed well during the 1990s. However, Uruguay’s economic health depends heavily on that of its two large neighbours, Argentina and Brazil. Both Latin American giants have been in the doldrums recently, and Uruguay’s output fell by one per cent during 2000, a trend which continued in 2001. Then, in August 2002, as both Argentina and, to a lesser extent, Brazil were gripped by financial crises, the Government was forced to shut down the financial system to prevent collapse. Loans from the IMF and the United States, totalling US$3 billion, have allowed the financial system to continue functioning. Uruguay is a member of Mercosur, the principal regional trade bloc, as well as the Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración (ALADI) and the Inter-American Development Bank. The country’s main trading partners are Brazil, Argentina, the USA and Germany. Business: Businessmen should wear conservative suits and ties. As far as communication is concerned, some knowledge of Spanish will prove invaluable, although English may be spoken by many in business and tourist circles. Appointments are necessary and punctuality is expected. Visiting cards are essential and it would be an advantage to have the reverse printed in Spanish. Avoid visits during Carnival week. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1200 and 1430-1830. Commercial Information: The following organisations can offer advice: Cámara Nacional de Comercio y Servicios del Uruguay, Edificio de la Bolsa de Comercio, Rincón 454, Piso 2, Casilla 1000, 11000 Montevideo (tel: (2) 916 1277; fax: (2) 916 1243; e-mail: gerencia@cncs.com.uy; website: www.cncs.com.uy); or Urugayan American Business Council, 1710 First Avenue, Suite 333, New York, NY 10128, USA (tel: (212) 722 3306; fax: (212) 996 2580; e-mail: gateway@uruguaychamber.com; website: www.uruguaychamber.com). Climate Uruguay has an exceptionally fine temperate climate, with mild summers and winters. Summer is from December to March and is the most pleasant time; the climate during other seasons offers bright, sunny days and cool nights. Required clothing: Mediumweight clothing for winter; lightweight clothing and raincoat required. History and Government History: In 1516, the death of Spanish explorer Juan de Solis, at the hands of indigenous tribes, while exploring the River Plate basin, coupled with the apparent absence of appreciable mineral deposits, discouraged further expeditions until the following century. Fierce opposition from the two main groups inhabiting what is now Uruguay – the Charrua and the Guarani – plagued would-be colonists for the next 300 years, before they were finally subdued, mainly through the combined effects of large-scale killings and imported disease. Parts of the territory were settled by the Spanish in the 1620s and the Portuguese in the 1680s; as a result Uruguay became a major bone of contention between these rival European powers. The Spanish prevailed in the early 18th century, after the establishment of a settlement at San Felipe de Montevideo (which eventually became the Uruguayan capital) in 1726. With a fine natural harbour, Montevideo soon assumed an important role in the region, as both a commercial centre and a Spanish naval base. Moreover, an intense rivalry developed between the city and Buenos Aires, which lay on the opposite bank of the Rio de la Plata basin. In 1776, Buenos Aires was chosen as the capital of the newly established Spanish Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata, which governed a territory including Montevideo. The final split between the two cities was triggered in 1808, by the overthrow of the Spanish King Ferdinand VII by Napoleon, in favour of the latter’s brother, Joseph. Soon afterwards, the military governor of Montevideo, Javier Elio, successfully lobbied to allow him control of the city independent of Buenos Aires, while paying nominal subservience to King Ferdinand. In 1810, the criollos of Buenos Aires – descendants of Spanish families who had emigrated to South America – unseated the Spanish Viceroy. But in the interior, in the region known as the Banda Oriental, most of the population backed the new regime in Buenos Aires and rallied to a regional military commander, Jose Artigas, in opposition to Elio. Although Artigas’ nine-year military campaign was ultimately unsuccessful – he was eventually exiled to Paraguay, where he died in 1850 – it laid the seeds of Uruguayan independence. Artigas himself is now recognised, along with Bolivar, Zapata and others, as one of the founding fathers of the independent nations of South America. His example and the political momentum it had created inspired others, notably Juan Antonio Lavalleja, whose ‘Liberation Crusade’ finally led to the 1825 declaration of independence by the political representatives of the Banda Oriental and the formal creation of the Uruguayan state in 1828. Throughout much of this early 19th-century period, the future Uruguay was occupied by Portuguese troops from neighbouring Brazil (who finally defeated Artigas); interventions – military and otherwise – by its larger neighbouring powers were to become a recurrent feature of Uruguay’s political history. A principal and, in many ways, parallel characteristic of Uruguay’s domestic politics is the deep schism between the two major political parties, both of which can trace their origins to the early years of independence. The liberally inclined Colorado Party and the right-wing National Party are commonly known as ‘Reds’ and ‘Whites’ or Blancos (by virtue of their once distinctive hatbands, rather than the colour of their politics). The conjunction between internal and external forces became apparent during the Great War of 1843-52, which centred on the siege of Montevideo, then under Colorado control, by Blanco forces. The war, which was eventually won by the Colorados, established the pattern whereby Argentina and Brazil became the guarantors of Uruguayan independence, with the intervention of global powers on occasion – Britain and France in the 19th century, the United States in the 20th century. Over time, the Colorado Party has come to be dominated by the Batlle family, one of the great modern political dynasties. Under the progressive Colorado administrations of José Batlle y Ordonez between 1903 and 1915, Uruguay established Latin America’s first welfare state, gave women the vote and abolished both the death penalty and the link between church and state. In 1933, in the first of a series of interventions in domestic politics during the 20th century, the military took power. Between 1951 and 1966, following the introduction of a new constitution, Uruguay was governed by an unusual form of collective leadership known as ‘collegiate government’. This lasted until 1966, after which economic difficulties led to an increase in labour unrest and the emergence of the Tupamaros guerrilla movement. In 1973 the military once again took charge and remained in power until 1985, by which time the Tupamaros had been defeated and all left-wing political activity outlawed. In a pattern common to other Latin American dictatorships of the era, hundreds of alleged opponents of the regime disappeared (presumed murdered); their fate is now being investigated by a government commission established in 2000. Dr Julio Sanguinetti of the Colorados held the presidency from 1985 until the presidential and congressional elections in November 1989, when the Blancos, under the banner of the Partido Nacional, achieved a majority in the National Assembly and their candidate, Luis Alberto Lacalle Herrera, was victorious in the presidential race. The new government adopted the South American trend in economic policy by selling off some state-owned businesses, reducing government spending and attracting foreign investment. It has also joined the Mercosur trading bloc with its neighbours. The Uruguayan left has experienced something of a resurgence since the mid-1990s. A leading light was the massively popular Tabare Vazquez, Mayor of Montevideo until 1994, whose combination of radical politics and pragmatic problem solving has greatly improved the quality of life in the capital. Tabare Vazquez is associated with the leftist coalition, Frente Amplio (Broad Front), which, in conjunction with dissident Blancos and other smaller groups, created the Encuentro Progresista (EP), which fought several exceptionally close elections in the 1990s. However, the November 1994 presidential and legislative elections were both won by the Colorados and the incumbent Sanguinetti, returned for a second term of office. Sanguinetti retired before the next presidential poll in November 1999, which was won by yet another member of the Batlle clan, Jorge Luis. The simultaneous National Assembly elections saw the leftist EP returned as the largest single party but excluded from office by an alliance of Colorados and Blancos. The EP also dominated the simultaneous National Assembly elections but was unable to secure an absolute majority and now finds itself in opposition to a centre-right coalition of the Colorados and the Partido Nacional. The government has since been preoccupied with serious economic problems related to the financial crises in Uruguay’s two large neighbours, Argentina and Brazil. The situation in Argentina has caused particular difficulties – the country came close to economic collapse amid widespread public disorder in August 2002. In the wake of that, Uruguay has sought and received financial assistance from the IMF, the US, European Union and others. Government: Legislative power is held by a bicameral congress, which comprises a 30-member Senate and a 99-member Chamber of Representatives. It is elected by universal adult suffrage every five years. The same terms apply to the election of the president, who is head of state and holds executive power, assisted by a vice president and an appointed council of ministers Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.