Luis Lacalle Pou

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Lore & Background

Lacalle Pou was born on 11 August 1973 in Montevideo. He attended The British Schools of Montevideo and graduated from the Catholic University of Uruguay in 1998 with a law degree. A member of the National Party, he was first elected to the Chamber of Representatives in 1999, serving from 2000 to 2015, and chaired the lower house during the 2011–2012 session. He also served as Senator from 2015 to 2019 and ran unsuccessfully for president in 2014. In the 2019 general election, he defeated Broad Front nominee Daniel Martínez with 50.79% of the vote in the second round. At age 46, he became the youngest president since 1985. During his presidency, he oversaw reforms to retirement, pension, and education systems, led Uruguay's COVID-19 response, and enacted the Urgent Consideration Law in July 2020. A 2022 referendum kept 135 articles of that law in force. His presidency faced a drought in mid-2023 that caused protests over water availability, and controversies led to resignations, including chief custodian Alejandro Astesiano, who was arrested for forging identity documents for Russian citizens. In July 2024, Lacalle Pou announced his candidacy for the Senate in the 2024 general election, as he could not run for a second presidential term due to a constitutional ban on consecutive re-election.

Reader's Guide

Luis Lacalle Pou's significance lies in his role as the first National Party president since his father left office in 1995, ending 15 years of leftist rule. His presidency was marked by a coalition of five parties, ranging from centre-left to hard right, and a focus on austerity and tax policy to reduce the public deficit. He gained praise for handling the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination rollout, which earned high approval ratings. His Urgent Consideration Law introduced wide-ranging reforms, though it faced a referendum that upheld the law. Controversies, including the arrest of a close aide, and a drought that sparked protests, tested his administration. His legacy includes shifting Uruguay's foreign policy, such as condemning the government of Nicolás Maduro, and his inability to seek re-election due to constitutional limits. His election represented only the fourth time in 154 years that the Blancos had been elected to lead the government.

Did You Know?

• Lacalle Pou is the son of former president Luis Alberto Lacalle and former first lady and senator Julia Pou.
• He was educated at The British Schools of Montevideo and graduated from the Catholic University of Uruguay in 1998 with a law degree.
• He defeated Broad Front nominee Daniel Martínez in the 2019 general election with 50.79% of the vote in the second round.
• In July 2024, he announced his candidacy for the Senate in the 2024 general election, as he could not run for a second presidential term due to a constitutional ban on consecutive re-election.

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