Introduction

Background

In 1726, the Spanish established the city of Montevideo in present-day Uruguay as a military outpost, which quickly evolved into a significant commercial hub thanks to its advantageous natural harbor. Initially, Argentina laid claim to Uruguay, but Brazil took over the territory in 1821. Uruguay proclaimed its independence in 1825 and achieved sovereignty in 1828 following a three-year conflict. During the early 20th century, President Jose BATLLE's administrations initiated extensive political, social, and economic reforms that fostered a statist tradition. In the late 1960s, a violent urban guerrilla group known as the Tupamaros (or Movimiento de Liberación Nacional-Tupamaros) emerged, prompting Uruguay's president to hand over governmental authority to the military in 1973. By the end of that year, the insurgents had been defeated, yet the military maintained and intensified its control over the government. Civilian governance was reinstated in 1985. The left-leaning Frente Amplio (FA) Coalition triumphed in the national elections of 2004, effectively ending 170 years of dominance by the Colorado and National (Blanco) parties. This left-of-center coalition held the presidency and command of both legislative chambers until 2019. Uruguay boasts some of the freest political and labor environments on the South American continent.