Uruguay's economy minister Fernando Lorenzo resigned on Saturday in the face of questions over the alleged irregular sale of government-owned airplanes following the closure of Pluna, the country's flag carrier, President Jose Mujica announced at a brief press conference, with no questions taken, next to Vice president Danilo Astori.
Uruguayan president Jose Mujica thanked Senator Luis Rosadilla for the gesture of having volunteered to join Argentine forces back in 1982 when the Malvinas conflict broke out and said the struggle for Latin American territory continues and an end to shreds of colonialism is 'a commitment with a motherland still to be constructed and waiting'.
Uruguayan president Jose Mujica and his peer from Argentina Cristina Fernandez will be meeting next 17 January on the sidelines of the Mercosur summit scheduled to take place in Caracas, Venezuela. This would be the first time the two leaders meet after over seventy days of interrupted bilateral dialogue, and they have a long list of issues to address if they finally decide to discuss them.
Uruguay's ruling coalition, Broad Front, is closing 2013 with a strong 44% electoral support, which is higher than all the opposition put together, according to the latest Mori public opinion poll on vote intention and support for the presidential hopefuls
President Jose Mujica reacted furiously to the accusation of Uruguay as a 'pirate state' from the UN official in charge of drugs' control, who was protesting the legalization of marihuana and because allegedly he was never received by the Uruguayan leader. Mujica bluntly replied, leaving aside all nice talk, tell that old man to stop lying and stop showing off to the stands.
Uruguay's recent passing of a bill legalizing cannabis from production to distribution has generated headlines and controversy worldwide. The basics of the law is that current methods to combat drugs addiction and trade have failed completely and new options should be experimented.
The Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins writes on the controversy.
Uruguayan president Jose Mujica again questioned Argentine president Cristina Fernandez administration trade policies which he said take us back 'to the sixties, when everybody locked in', and in effect deny Mercosur and harm other members.
Brazil's influential daily O'Globo called for a drastic change in the country's approach to trade policy arguing that without a review, Mercosur does not work and reveals that the latest signals from Argentina are that it is reluctant to reach a free trade and cooperation agreement in the framework of Mercosur with the European Union.
Uruguayan president Jose Mujica decided to advance Monday's ministerial cabinet for Saturday so that he can fly to Brazil and Venezuela where he is scheduled to meet with Dilma Roussefdf and later Nicolas Maduro. Mujica on Friday al last moment cancelled his trip to Brasilia but will be meeting Rousseff in the southern city of Porto Alegre.
The Mercosur summit scheduled for December in Venezuela has been suspended and will most probably take place sometime in late January announced Uruguayan president Jose Mujica who on Friday cancelled a trip to Brasilia to meet with his peer Dilma Rousseff.