Luis Lacalle Pou

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Lacalle and the second or maternal family name is Pou.
Luis Lacalle Pou
Foto Oficial Presidente Luis Lacalle Pou (cropped).jpg
Official portrait, 2020
42nd President of Uruguay
Assumed office
1 March 2020
Vice PresidentBeatriz Argimón
Preceded byTabaré Vázquez
Senator of the Republic
In office
15 February 2015 – 12 August 2019
President of the Chamber of Representatives
In office
1 March 2011 – 1 March 2012
Preceded byIvonne Passada
Succeeded byJorge Orrico
National Representative
for Canelones
In office
15 February 2000 – 15 February 2015
Personal details
Born
Luis Alberto Aparicio Alejandro Lacalle Pou

(1973-08-10) 10 August 1973 (age 48)
Montevideo, Uruguay
Political partyNational Party
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 2000)​
Children
  • Luis Alberto
  • Violeta
  • Manuel
Parent(s)Luis Alberto Lacalle
Julia Pou
Residence(s)Residencia de Suarez
EducationThe British Schools
Alma materCatholic University of Uruguay
Signature

Luis Alberto Aparicio Alejandro Lacalle Pou (Spanish pronunciation: [lwiz laˈkaʝe pou̯];[a] born 10 August 1973) is a Uruguayan politician and lawyer serving as President of Uruguay since 1 March 2020.[1]

Son of former president Luis Alberto Lacalle Herrera, Lacalle Pou attended The British Schools of Montevideo and graduated from Catholic University of Uruguay in 1998 with a law degree.[2] A member of the National Party, he was first elected to the Chamber of Representatives at the 1999 election as a National Representative for the Canelones Department, a position he held from 2000 to 2015. During the first session of the 47th Legislature (2011-2012) he chaired the lower house of the General Assembly. He also served as Senator from 2015 to 2019.[3] He ran unsuccessfully for president in 2014. Five years later, he defeated the Broad Front nominee Daniel Martínez in the 2019 general election and was elected President of Uruguay with 50.79% of the vote in the second round.[4] At the age of 46, Lacalle Pou ended the 15-year leftist rule in the country and became the youngest president since the end of the dictatorship in 1985.[5]

Early life[]

Luis Alberto Aparicio Alejandro Lacalle Pou was born on born 10 August 1973 in Montevideo. He is the son of former president Luis Alberto Lacalle and former first lady and senator Julia Pou.[6][7] He has two siblings, Pilar and Juan José, and is the great-grandson of Luis Alberto de Herrera, on his paternal side.[8][9]

He lived in the barrio Pocitos during childhood and adolescence.[10] When his father took office as president in 1990, his family moved to the Suárez presidential residence in barrio Prado.[11][12] He was educated at The British Schools of Montevideo.[13] As his final years at the school coincided with his father's elevation to the presidency, a guard was posted at the school gates while he and his younger brother attended class.[13] Resisting official protocol to be taken to school in a car by government escort, he instead preferred to drive himself in an old family vehicle.[13] In 1993 he enrolled at the Catholic University of Uruguay to study law, graduating in 1998.[2]

Political career[]

In the 1999 general elections, he was elected representative for Canelones, serving the 2000–2005 term. He was re-elected in 2004 under the herrerismo faction of the National Party, a movement founded by his great-grandfather, Luis Alberto de Herrera. In the 2009 general elections, he was elected for a third consecutive time and served until 2015.

He was a candidate for Intendant of Canelones in the 2010 municipal election,[14] obtaining 22.82% of the votes and being defeated by Marcos Carámbula of the Broad Front.

Lacalle Pou is the leader of the political lists 404 (Montevideo) and 400 (Canelones).

Presidential candidacies[]

2014[]

On 30 March 2014, Lacalle Pou launched his bid for the presidency.[15] On 1 June 2014 he was nominated as candidate of his party for the presidential elections in October, in which he was elected Senator of the Republic.[16] He was defeated on the second round of presidential election on 30 November 2014.

2019[]

In the 2019 presidential primaries, Lacalle Pou competed against Enrique Antía, , again Jorge Larrañaga and against the new candidate Juan Sartori, with whom he maintained a tense relationship. Lacalle Pou accused him of spreading fake news, some of these cases were brought to justice.[17] Lacalle Pou won by 53% of the votes, enough to announce Beatriz Argimón the same night of 30 June as a vice president candidate.[18]

In the first round of the 2019 general election, held on Sunday, 27 October 2019, he obtained second place with 28.62% of the votes. As no presidential candidate received a majority of voting, a runoff election took place on 24 November.[19] In the runoff, Luis Lacalle Pou garnered 48.71% of the unofficial vote. His opponent, Broad Front candidate and former intendant of Montevideo, Daniel Martínez obtained 47.51% of the vote. The Electoral Court of Uruguay would publish the official results by Friday, 29 November 2019, as observed votes were still to be counted, totaling more than the difference between the two candidates, thus being too close to call. Daniel Martinez did not concede the race then, awaiting the official count. Lacalle Pou unofficially declared himself the winner, as the votes already counted marked an irreversible trend. Martínez conceded defeat on 28 November 2019. On 30 November, final votes counts confirmed Lacalle Pou as the winner with 48.8% of the total votes cast over Martínez with 47.3%.[20] He was the first National/Blanco candidate to win the presidency since his father left office in 1995. His election also marked only the fourth time in 154 years that the Blancos had been elected to lead the government.

President of Uruguay[]

Main article: Presidency of Luis Lacalle Pou
Presidential styles of
Luis Lacalle Pou
Reference styleSeñor Presidente.
"Mr. President"
Alternative stylePresidente de la República.
"President of the Republic"

Inauguration[]

Main article: Inauguration of Luis Lacalle Pou

Lacalle took office on 1 March 2020. After the constitutional oath before the General Assembly, he paraded down with Vice President Beatriz Argimón along Libertador Avenue in a 1937 Ford V8 convertible that belonged to his great-grandfather, Luis Alberto de Herrera.[21] The parade ended in Plaza Independencia, where he received the presidential sash from the outgoing President Tabaré Vázquez.

Lacalle had announced during his electoral campaign the introduction of a package of government measures through an urgent consideration law, a prerogative of the Executive Power in Uruguay that allows it to send to the General Assembly a bill with a peremptory term of 90 days, expired which is approved in the affirmative form if the General Assembly is not issued to the contrary.[22] The 2020 coronavirus pandemic delayed the presentation of the bill, which finally formally entered the Parliament on 23 April 2020.[23]

Cabinet[]

Lacalle announced his cabinet on 16 December 2019, which is formed by an electoral alliance, the Coalición Multicolor, which is made up of the National Party, the Colorado Party, Open Cabildo, the Independent Party and the Party of the People.[24] He declared that it was going to be a "government of action",[25] and that he wanted to form a "government that talks a lot with the people".[26]

 
Cabinet of Luis Lacalle Pou's Government
Office Name Political party Term
Ministry of National Defense Javier García Duchini National 1 March 2020 – pres.
Ministry of the Interior Jorge Larrañaga National 1 March 2020 – 22 May 2021
Luis Alberto Héber National 24 May 2021 – pres.
Ministry of Foreign Relations Ernesto Talvi Colorado 1 March 2020 – 6 July 2020
Francisco Bustillo nonpartisan politician 6 July 2020 – pres.
Ministry of Economy and Finance Azucena Arbeleche National 1 March 2020 – pres.
Ministry of Education and Culture Pablo Da Silveira National 1 March 2020 – pres.
Ministry of Public Health Daniel Salinas Open Cabildo 1 March 2020 – pres.
Ministry of Social Development Pablo Bartol National 1 March 2020 – 1 May 2021
Martín Lema National 3 May 2021 – pres.
Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare Pablo Mieres Independent 1 March 2020 – pres.
Ministry of Transport and Public Works Luis Alberto Héber National 1 March 2020 – 24 May 2021
José Luis Falero National 25 May 2021 – pres.
Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries Colorado 1 March 2020 – 27 June 2021
Colorado 27 June 2021 – pres.
Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining Omar Paganini National 1 March 2020 – pres.
Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning Irene Moreira Open Cabildo 1 March 2020 – pres.
Ministry of Tourism Colorado 1 March 2020 – 20 August 2021
Tabaré Viera Colorado 23 August 2021 – pres.
Ministry of Environment Adrián Peña Colorado 27 August 2020 – pres.
Secretariat of Sports Sebastián Bauzá National 1 March 2020 – pres.
Secretariat of the Presidency Álvaro Delgado National 1 March 2020 – pres.
Deputy Secretariat of the Presidency National 1 March 2020 – pres.
Office of Planning and Budget Isaac Alfie Colorado 1 March 2020 – pres.

Foreign policy[]

President Lacalle Pou with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro

During Lacalle Pou's first days of presidency, Uruguay's foreign relations shifted substantially from those under Broad Front. After taking office, he condemned the government of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.[27] And also Lacalle decided not to invite him to his inauguration stating "it is a personal decision, which I take care of. This is not the Chancellery, this is not protocol, this is my person who made this decision".[28] The presidents of Cuba and Nicaragua were not invited either.[29] However, the Lacalle government refused to recognize Guaidó as legitimate President of Venezuela and instead recognized him as President of the National Assembly stating that recognizing Guaidó at the same time that Maduro is in power is a "step that for now we cannot take."[30] In January 2021, the Lacalle government refused to recognize the new National Assembly, and stated that the Maduro's "dictatorial regime" violates the "rule of law."[31]

Lacalle's government ordered the withdrawal of Uruguay from the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), arguing that it occurred because "it is an organization that became an ideological political alliance contrary to the country's objectives of linking."[32] In addition, it was reported that the country would return to the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR)[33] and that the government would support Luis Almagro in a re-election to the post of president of the Organization of American States.[32] Lacalle has been in favor of a relaxation of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) rules, such as the common external tariff. He has also proposed to deepen the free trade zone.[34][35]

COVID-19 pandemic[]

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Uruguay

The COVID-19 pandemic emerged within the first days of Lacalle Pou's presidency. The first four cases, all imported, were reported on 13 March. On 14 March, Lacalle requested the cancellation of public performances, and the closure of some public places. An awareness campaign was launched and citizens were advised to stay home. A two-week suspension of classes at public and private schools was also announced.[36] On 16 March, Lacalle issued an order to close all border crossings except Carrasco International Airport.[37] The border with Argentina was closed effective 17 March at midnight.[38]

Lacalle refused to implement the lockdown, appealing for "individual freedom".[39][40] On 8 April, he announced the reopening of rural schools on 22 April. It was also reported that the reopening would be in educational centers in the interior of the country, excluding those of Montevideo and Canelones; and that attendance would be voluntary.[41] It was 35% of the total registered.[42] On April, 17 he informed that his administration decided to create a group, made up of experts that would define methods and studies to advise the government. The experts would be: the mathematician, electrical engineer, and academic from the Latin American Academy of Sciences, Fernando Paganini; Dr. Rafael Radi, the first Uruguayan scientist at the National Academy of Sciences of the United States and president of the National Academy of Sciences of Uruguay; and Dr. Henry Cohen, President of the National Academy of Medicine and awarded as a Master by the World Gastroenterology Organisation in 2019.[43]

On 21 May, Lacalle announced that face-to-face classes would resume on three different dates, depending on the level of education. It was also reported that attendance would be voluntary, he stated "We return to a fundamental aspect of life, which is the future of our children".[44][45]

On 29 May, he himself, along with the Secretary of the Presidency, the Minister of National Defense, his private secretary and the ASSE President began a quarantine while awaiting the test, after having contact with the director of the Ministry of Social Development in Rivera, who was infected with COVID-19.[46] A day later, after being tested, it was confirmed that neither he nor the other government officials had contracted the virus.[47]

2022 referendum[]

Main article: 2022 Uruguayan Law of Urgent Consideration referendum

A constitutional referendum will be held in March 2022.[48]

Personal life[]

Lacalle Pou, who has played many sports (rugby, soccer, tennis, boxing, etc.) in his youth, now enjoys surfing, a sport he's been practicing since the 1980s.[49] He married Lorena Ponce de León in 2000, in a service conducted by Daniel Sturla in the Montevideo Metropolitan Cathedral.[50] Together, they have three children: Luis Alberto, Violeta and Manuel.

See also[]

  • List of political families of Uruguay

Notes[]

  1. ^ In isolation, Luis is pronounced [lwis].

References[]

  1. ^ "Center-right president takes office in Uruguay". Archived from the original on 1 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b Codrops. "Graduado UCU es electo presidente". Universidad Católica del Uruguay (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  3. ^ ElPais. "Lacalle Pou renuncia al Senado el lunes 12 antes de iniciar la gira electoral". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  4. ^ de 2019, 28 de Noviembre. "Uruguay: el escrutinio definitivo consagró a Luis Lacalle Pou como nuevo Presidente". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  5. ^ Risso, Elena (29 February 2020). "Quién es Luis Lacalle, el surfista que pone fin a 15 años de gobierno de izquierda en Uruguay". BBC News Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  6. ^ "El segundo integrante de la familia en convertirse en jefe de Estado". El País (Uruguay). 28 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Uruguay votes in second round of presidential poll". BBC News. 24 November 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Un auto cargado de historia familiar". Revista Galeria de Busqueda en Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  9. ^ ElPais. "Las fotos del cumpleaños 80 de Luis Alberto Lacalle Herrera". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  10. ^ Observador, El. "La infancia del presidente: el "Manga" de pelo "verdoso" que recorría Pocitos en skate". El Observador. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  11. ^ "La residencia de Suárez y una historia de amor". Revista Galeria de Busqueda en Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Ningún hijo del presidente duerme en la guardilla, su rincón de la adolescencia rebelde". Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  13. ^ a b c Elena Risso. "110 años de The British Schools". Revista Galeria de Busqueda en Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  14. ^ "¿Cómo fue la carrera de Luis Lacalle Pou a la presidencia? Un repaso a su vida política". Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  15. ^ "Lacalle Pou starts his presidential campaign" (in Spanish). Brecha. 4 April 2014.
  16. ^ "Unexpected victory of Lacalle Pou in the Uruguayan primaries" (in Spanish). EL PAIS. 2 June 2014. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014.
  17. ^ "The National Party denounced Juan Sartori for fake news" (in Spanish). El Observador. 11 August 2019.
  18. ^ "Lacalle Pou surprised announced his partner for the October elections" (in Spanish). El País. 11 August 2019.
  19. ^ "Uruguay presidential election to go to second round". BBC News. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Lacalle won with 48.8% and Martínez obtained 47.3% in the 2019 ballot: look at the results". El Pais. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  21. ^ ElPais. "De Luis Alberto de Herrera a Lacalle Pou: el Ford V8 de 1937 está pronto para la asunción". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  22. ^ Observador, El. "Ley de urgencia: el secreto mejor guardado de Lacalle para blindarla". El Observador. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  23. ^ Uruguay, Presidencia de la República Oriental del. "Gobierno concretó ingreso formal al Parlamento del proyecto de ley de urgente consideración - Presidencia de la República". Presidencia de la República Oriental del Uruguay (in European Spanish). Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  24. ^ "Lacalle presentó su gabinete ministerial: conocé todos los nombres". Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  25. ^ ElPais. "Lacalle Pou presentó a su gabinete, con clara mayoría nacionalista". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  26. ^ "Lacalle presentó su gabinete ministerial: conocé todos los nombres". Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  27. ^ de 2020, 2 de Marzo. "Luis Lacalle Pou reiteró su respaldo al gobierno de Juan Guaidó: "El pueblo venezolano cuenta con nuestro afecto y apoyo"". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  28. ^ ElPais. "Lacalle: "No estoy dispuesto a que en la asunción esté el dictador Maduro; es personal"". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  29. ^ Observador, El. "Lacalle ordenó que Nicaragua, Cuba y Venezuela no sean invitados al traspaso de mando". El Observador. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  30. ^ "Gobierno uruguayo reconoce a Guaidó sólo como presidente de la AN". Enterate 24 (in Spanish). 22 January 2020.
  31. ^ "Gobierno uruguayo rechazó instalación de nueva Asamblea Nacional en Venezuela" [Uruguayan government rejected the installation of a new National Assembly in Venezuela]. El Observador Uruguay (in Spanish). 5 January 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  32. ^ a b Uruguay, Presidencia de la República Oriental del. "Uruguay se retira de la Unasur, regresa al TIAR y apoyará la reelección de Luis Almagro al frente de OEA - Presidencia de la República". Presidencia de la República Oriental del Uruguay (in European Spanish). Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  33. ^ ElPais. "Gobierno anunció el retiro de Uruguay de la Unasur y el reingreso al TIAR". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  34. ^ ElPais. "Lacalle dijo que el Mercosur no puede ser "un lastre" y Fernández contestó que "lo más fácil es bajarse del barco si es que esa carga pesa mucho"". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  35. ^ de 2021, 29 de Marzo. "Tras las críticas de Alberto Fernández, Lacalle Pou volvió a pedir "que se flexibilice el Mercosur"". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  36. ^ ElPais. "Gobierno suspende clases en todo el país durante dos semanas por coronavirus". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  37. ^ "Gobierno confirma 29 casos en Uruguay y decreta cierre de fronteras con Argentina". El País. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  38. ^ "Uruguay closes borders with Argentina in bid to block coronavirus". Buenos Aires Times. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  39. ^ 28 May, Nicolás Saldías /; English, 2020Click to read this article in SpanishClick to read this article in (28 May 2020). "Uruguay, the exception to Latin America's COVID-19 surge". Global Americans. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  40. ^ "Luis Lacalle Pou: "Me siento defensor de la libertad individual y la justicia social"". Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  41. ^ Observador, El. "Gobierno anunció que el 22 de abril se retoman las clases en 973 escuelas rurales". El Observador. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  42. ^ "Así fue el comienzo de clases en 344 escuelas rurales de todo el país". Teledoce.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  43. ^ ElPais. "Lacalle Pou anuncia el equipo que planificará "la nueva normalidad"". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  44. ^ Uruguay, Presidencia de la República Oriental del. "Gobierno anunció retorno presencial y voluntario a clases a partir de junio - Presidencia de la República". Presidencia de la República Oriental del Uruguay (in European Spanish). Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  45. ^ admin (22 May 2020). "Luis Lacalle Pou announced the resumption of classes in schools in Uruguay". Web24 News. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  46. ^ Uruguay, Presidencia de la República Oriental del. "Comunicado de Presidencia de la República - Presidencia de la República". Presidencia de la República Oriental del Uruguay (in European Spanish). Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  47. ^ Uruguay, Presidencia de la República Oriental del. "Comunicado de Presidencia de la República - Presidencia de la República". Presidencia de la República Oriental del Uruguay (in European Spanish). Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  48. ^ Observador, El. "Estos son los 135 artículos de la LUC que el FA y las organizaciones sociales quieren llevar a referéndum". El Observador. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  49. ^ Zanocchi, Pablo (28 November 2019). "Un surfista fue electo presidente de Uruguay". Dukesurf.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  50. ^ Observador, El. "El vínculo Lacalle-Sturla y la nueva visibilidad de la Iglesia Católica". El Observador. Retrieved 25 April 2020.

External links[]

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