News of lacalle

EU reaches long-sought Mercosur deal despite French objections

06-12-2024 12:47 European Union and Mercosur bloc clinch trade deal despite objections of France, which will try to block process; Signing and ratification process could take as long as 18 months.

future of mercosur

Milei: Mercosur has ‘ended up becoming a prison’ for members

06-12-2024 12:28 Argentina’s President slams Mercosur protectionism at summit and calls for "new formula" for regional bloc, stating it has been a “stumbling block to the progress of Argentines.”

ANALYSIS

Too stable? Uruguay's model election masks problems

27-11-2024 10:00 Election day passed off peacefully in Uruguay, with the losing candidate accepting defeat gracefully. But underneath the surface, Argentina's neighbour faces a raft of issues, including growing disenchantment with the political system.

MERCOSUR SUMMIT

President Milei to attend first Mercosur Summit in Montevideo

26-11-2024 10:41 After his absence in Asunción, President Javier Milei is set to attend his first Mercosur summit in Montevideo next week; talks will focus on the long-stalled EU free trade deal, though Argentina's leader is expected to criticise the bloc's functioning.

POLITICS IN URUGUAY

Orsi, Uruguay's president-elect, visits mentor Mujica after run-off win

25-11-2024 22:22 Frente Amplio leader Yamandú Orsi, who won last Sunday's presidential run-off plays up ties to ex-president Jose 'Pepe' Mujica ahead of taking office.

URUGUAY ELECTIONS 2024

Frente Amplio returns to power in Uruguay as Orsi wins run-off

25-11-2024 10:44 Frente Amplio's Yamandú Orsi is elected president of Uruguay after Sunday's run-off; Leftist leader calls for national dialogue in a speech to supporters after results.

URUGUAY ELECTION 2024

Uruguay readies for polls with Frente Amplio hoping for comeback

22-11-2024 10:03 Álvaro Delgado of outgoing president Luis Lacalle Pou's ruling coalition, and Yamandú Orsi, of the left-wing Frente Amplio coalition, go head-to-head in the Uruguay's presidential election run-off.

Uruguay election 2024

US$23-billion pension vote overshadows Uruguay’s upcoming election

16-10-2024 11:35 In the middle of Uruguay's presidential election, citizens are battling with a US$23-billion pension vote that would increase minimum payouts, lower the retirement age and transfer privately managed savings to a government-run trust.

Politics & Economy

Leftist Uruguay presidential candidate pledges to achieve primary fiscal surplus

25-09-2024 18:12 Uruguay’s leading presidential candidate, Yamandu Orsi of the opposition Frente Amplio coalition, says he will aim for primary fiscal surplus by the end of his term if he wins the October election.

MERCOSUR SUMMIT

Mercosur leaders slam Milei's absence from summit

09-07-2024 09:44 Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, Luis Lacalle Pou and Santiago Peña criticise Argentine leaders decision not to attend a Mercosur presidential summit.

MERCOSUR TENSIONS

Lacalle Pou criticises Milei’s decision to skip Mercosur summit

08-07-2024 16:15 "The message is not the only important thing, the messenger is very important," declares Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou in response to Javier Milei's Mercosur summit.

MERCOSUR SUMMIT

Mondino tells Mercosur peers that bloc needs ‘adrenaline shock’

08-07-2024 13:03 Argentina’s Foreign Minister tells her Mercosur counterparts that trade bloc needs an “adrenaline shock” to realise its “untapped potential” – yet President Javier Milei still won’t attend presidential summit.

Mercosur summit

Mercosur summit ends without EU deal, eclipsed by Venezuela fear

08-12-2023 01:01 A Mercosur summit planned to conclude a landmark trade agreement with the European Union closed Thursday in Rio de Janeiro with no deal in sight and its leaders focused instead on preventing a burgeoning territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana.

MILEI'S INAUGURATION

Zelenskyy headlines guestlist as leaders confirm for inauguration

08-12-2023 00:45 Javier Milei will be sworn-in as Argentina's new head of state on Sunday in a ceremony set to be attended by a host of regional and world leaders.

FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY

Milei confirms visits to US, Israel before December 10 inauguration

20-11-2023 13:23 Libertarian president-elect Javier Milei, who will be sworn-in as Argentina's head of state on December 10, confirms visits to New York, Miami and Israel before inauguration.

PRESIDENT MILEI: REACTION

Governments in Americas congratulate Milei on election triumph

19-11-2023 22:09 Presidents, prime ministers and political leaders across the Americas offer congratulations to Argentina's President-elect Javier Milei.

SCANDAL OVER RIVER PLATE

Uruguay foreign minister resigns after leaked calls on fugitive drug-trafficker

02-11-2023 15:39 Uruguay's foreign minister resign after the release of recordings in which he allegedly seeks to cover up information involving Sebastián Marset, an accused cocaine-trafficker and subject of an international manhunt.

MERCOSUR TENSIONS

Lula vows to grow Mercosur amid Uruguay flak, Argentina crisis

05-07-2023 11:00 Plans to strengthen and expand the Mercosur trading bloc hit by disagreement among its members over several topics, including Venezuela and free-trade agreements with other markets.

MERCOSUR SUMMIT

Alberto Fernández shows off support for Sergio Massa at Mercosur summit

04-07-2023 14:34 At the Mercosur summit in Puerto Iguazú, President Alberto Fernández shows off support for Economy Minister Sergio Massa, who secures a host of invitations from foreign leaders.

by Rosario Ayerdi

MERCOSUR TENSIONS

Uruguay steps up criticism of Mercosur at Argentina summit

04-07-2023 13:56 Uruguay steps up criticism of Mercosur at key summit, saying internal trade barriers are hurting exports to Argentina while the bloc's regulations prevent it from signing an agreement with China.

BILATERAL MEET

Biden hosts Uruguay’s president for surprise meeting

14-06-2023 14:13 US President Joe Biden explores "ways to expand the economic relationship" with Uruguay during meeting with Luis Lacalle Pou at White House.

South American summit

Venezuela debate overshadows Lula’s unity pitch at summit

01-06-2023 00:39 Uruguay and Chile slam Lula’s defence of Nicolás Maduro at South American summit in Brasília.

ANALYSIS

Latin America's leaders and UNASUR: unity in the midst of divergence

31-05-2023 10:31 Everybody was onboard with unity at the meeting of South American leaders in Brasília, but the presence of Nicolás Maduro caused divergence.

by Eleonora Gosman

SCANDAL IN URUGUAY

Uruguay president's ex-security boss jailed in passports for Russians scam

16-02-2023 13:37 Alejandro Astesiano, former head head of President Luis Lacalle Pou's security detail, sentenced to more than four years in prison in a scandal involving influence-peddling, criminal association and revealing state secrets.

Diplomacy & Trade

Lula in Uruguay: Meeting with Lacalle Pou and a wink to the opposition

25-01-2023 13:10 Brazilian president arrived in Montevideo on Wednesday to meet with Luis Lacalle Pou; Talks regarding the Mercosur trade bloc dominate, but Lula also delivers a nod to the country’s opposition by meeting major figures of the left.

CELAC SUMMIT 2023

Lacalle Pou voices discontent at CELAC summit

24-01-2023 21:35 Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou delivers forceful remarks at “ideological” CELAC summit, declaring that “there are countries here that do not respect democracy or human rights.”

PRESIDENT ON MERCOSUR

President: ‘Agricultural protectionism’ blocking EU-Mercosur deal

01-01-2023 03:00 President Alberto Fernández on tensions within the Mercosur, the future of the regional trade bloc and what is really blocking its controversial free-trade deal with the European Union.

by Jorge Fontevecchia