Other than a period of military dictatorship between 1973 and 1985, the country boasts the longest period of democratic history in South America. Today, politics are stable and dominated by two ideological camps. One is a center-right coalition comprising five parties, including the two most traditional parties in the country (Partido Nacional and Partido Colorado). The other is a center-left coalition called Frente Amplio, established in 1971. The country is relatively cohesive, with no religious, regional or ethnic conflicts. Minority groups include Afro- descendants, a Jewish community and Indigenous groups.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Uruguay went through a severe economic crisis, prompting structural reforms, including reorganization of the banking system, improvement of financial regulation and accountability, and restructuring of debt. Despite significant economic strengthening, ten per cent of the country’s population lives below the poverty line, which particularly affects children, adolescents, women and those who identify as Afro-descendants.

Uruguay’s politics are currently dominated by security and the response to a sharp increase in its homicide rate, likely due to an increase in drug trafficking, which has, in turn, led to increased internal conflict. The increased violence has led to urban fragmentation in Montevideo, with unrest concentrated in certain population-dense areas of the city. As a response to the higher insecurity, the government passed the controversial Ley de Urgente Consideración (LUC) in 2020. It increased the power of the police, introduced harsher sentencing, and outlawed certain protests. It also created a Secretariat of State Strategic Intelligence, which was met with harsh criticism from some quarters,  given the country’s experience of dictatorship. A host of domestic and international experts have denounced aspects of the law related to the restriction of civil liberties, but a 2022 referendum saw its most controversial provisions stand (by a slim margin). Since then, human rights organizations have denounced the deteriorating conditions in the country’s penitentiary system, pointing to the increase in incarceration rates that has placed Uruguay at the top of the incarceration per capita ranking in South America.

In 2023, a series of corruption scandals led to several investigations and resignations affecting the ruling party. Lastly, a new media law has received significant criticism from international and local organizations for its potential threat to freedom of expression and possible increases in media ownership concentration.

Gender equality remains a challenge with only 25.3 per cent of women holding seats in parliament and poverty particularly affecting women. Gender-based violence remains widespread.

It will be important to watch the implementation of the Ley de Urgente Consideración in the years ahead, particularly because it may impact Civil Liberties. Other issues include the functioning of the Secretariat of State Strategic Intelligence, which may affect Rule of Law. Lastly, it will be important to watch  how the country addresses pending challenges in terms of Rights, particularly regarding Freedom of Expression, Economic Equality and Gender Equality.

Updated June 2024