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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, April 5th 2025 - 06:57 UTC

Uruguay

  • Friday, February 14th 2025 - 10:13 UTC

    Uruguay tops Transparency International regional rankings

    Criminal organizations exploit the region's weak institutions, the 2024 report found. Photo: Sebastián Astorga

    With a score of 76 points, Uruguay topped Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for the Americas - 2024 issue - released earlier this week. Amid widespread regional declines, Uruguay outperformed Canada and Barbados thanks to robust democratic institutions, high transparency, strong citizen participation, and effective environmental governance. This achievement came during President Luis Lacalle Pou's last month in office. Starting March 1, he will be succeeded by Yamandú Orsi, of the opposition Broad Front (Frente Amplio - FA).

  • Thursday, February 13th 2025 - 19:49 UTC

    Uruguay: Possible slave-like conditions for Chinese company workers under investigation

    Díaz criticized business sectors nostalgic of the 1990s when there was little to no collective bargaining and almost no labor protection

    Uruguay's National Union of Construction and Related Industries (Sunca) Secretary-General Javier Díaz said the rate of labor accidents nationwide has worsened over the past five years and blamed the departing administration of President Luis Lacalle Pou for this, amid waning collective wage bargaining conditions and high unemployment and informality.

  • Thursday, February 13th 2025 - 01:18 UTC

    Uruguay's Green Energy Success Story Takes an Unexpected Turn

    Last year Uruguay generated 98% of its energy from renewable resources and proudly paved the way for a new form of energy sovereignty in a changing climate

    Uruguay has been considered a leading country in renewable energy, with 98% of its energy eolic, but now has surprisingly has invited foreign companies to explore for offshore oil and gas reserves, attracting some of the heavy weights of he industry, which has generated certain controversy in the country regarding concerns about the impact on marine life and the potential damage to Uruguay’s current global standing. OilPrice, which specializes in the oil and gas industry information comments on the decision.

  • Wednesday, February 12th 2025 - 14:34 UTC

    Argentina: Irregularities detected in key waterway concession process

    The government of Javier Milei launched the bidding process in November 2024

    Argentina's Administrative Investigations Prosecutor’s Office (PIA) has identified “serious irregularities” in the bidding process for the concession of the Paraná-Paraguay waterway, a crucial trade corridor for the region. The waterway is essential for exporting agricultural products from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay to the Atlantic.

  • Wednesday, February 12th 2025 - 09:56 UTC

    Yamandú Orsi calls for tougher measures in Congo

    Pulling Uruguay from the Monusco force needs to be decided with all the elements on the table, Orsi argued

    Uruguay's President-elect Yamandú Orsi maintained Tuesday that the United Nations must do something concrete about the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where troops from the South American country are stationed as part of the international Monusco peacekeeping mission. “The United Nations Security Council has to take a firmer decision,” Orsi stressed.

  • Tuesday, February 11th 2025 - 09:25 UTC

    Uruguayan industry might face encores of Yazaki case

    There is no developed country without a robust industry, García pointed out

    After the departure from the country earlier this month of Japanese autopart maker Yazaki, Uruguay's Chamber of Industries (CIU) President Leonardo García warned that the South American country's situation might encourage other foreign companies to follow suit.

  • Tuesday, February 11th 2025 - 09:00 UTC

    German President announces South American tour

    Steinmeier will be attending Orsi's inauguration in Montevideo

    German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be touring Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile between February 28 and March 8, it was announced Monday in Berlin. The head of state will attend Yamandú Orsi's inauguration in Montevideo on March 1. He is also scheduled to meet with Paraguay's Santiago Peña and Chile's Gabriel Boric Font.

  • Tuesday, February 11th 2025 - 08:32 UTC

    Uruguay’s President-elect Orsi appoints key figures for science, technology, and innovation agencies

    “The Presidency will promote the consolidation of a science, technology, and innovation ecosystem to position Uruguay as a global reference in the field,” stated an official communiqué

    Uruguay’s incoming president, Yamandú Orsi, has announced the leadership of key agencies overseeing science, technology, and innovation. The move aims to strengthen coordination among institutions such as the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII) and the National Meat Institute (INAC).

  • Monday, February 10th 2025 - 21:20 UTC

    Fallen Uruguayan soldier not to arrive before Thursday

    Peace missions are State policy, so no changes are to be expected under Orsi, Lazo said

    Authorities in Montevideo admitted Monday that bringing back the body of 39-year-old Rodolfo Álvarez, the Uruguayan soldier killed in action while serving on the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Monusco), will not take place before Thursday. Álvarez had a wife and two daughters aged 4 months and 4 years, respectively.

  • Friday, February 7th 2025 - 09:44 UTC

    Future Human Rights Secretary will be the first trans woman within Uruguay's Executive

    Human rights must be “respected for all, everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, class, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ,” Spinetti insisted

    Uruguay's future Human Rights Secretary Collette Spinetti will be the first trans woman to hold a position in the South American country's Executive Branch. She is also the third trans woman to reach public office after Michelle Suárez, who became Uruguay's first trans senator in October 2017, and Alejandra da Rosa, who was elected mayor (governor) of Tacuarembó in 2020. All three stemmed from President-elect Yamandú Orsi's Broad Front (Frente Amplio - FA).