List of presidents of Uruguay

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Uruguay is a presidential republic in which the president is both the head of state and head of government. The following is a list of all the people who have held the office of President of Uruguay since 6 November 1830 (when the first constitution was adopted), with the exception of those who held the office of "President" under the National Council of Government, which served as the country's executive directory from 1955 to 1967. The first president of this list is Fructuoso Rivera, who held the office twice and once as part of the Triumvirate that ruled the country from 1853 to 1854.

Most of the presidents of Uruguay have belonged to the Colorado Party, a traditionally conservative party founded by Rivera in 1836, although there has not been a Colorado president since Jorge Batlle left office in 2005. The first free democratic elections for president were held in 1922. The current president is Yamandú Orsi of the Broad Front, who was elected in the 2024 presidential election.

Governors of Uruguay as a province

Oriental Province (1814–1817)

The Province was a part of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, it was under the control of governors appointed by the government in Buenos Aires.

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Took office Left office Duration Notes
1 Nicolás Rodríguez Peña
(1775–1853)		 9 July 1814 25 August 1814 47 days Appointed by Gervasio Antonio de Posadas, Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.
2 Miguel Estanislao Soler
(1783–1849)		 25 August 1814 10 January 1815 138 days
3 José Gervasio Artigas

(1764–1850)

 10 January 1815 26 February 1815 47 days Protector of the Federal League.
4 Fernando Otorgués [es]
(1774–1831)		 26 February 1815 July 1815 125 days Appointed by José Gervasio Artigas.
5 Miguel Barreiro [es]
(1789–1848)		 July 1815 20 January 1817 1 year, 203 days Appointed by José Gervasio Artigas.
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Cisplatine Province (1817–1828)

Main article: Cisplatine Province

After the Portuguese conquest of the Banda Oriental, the Oriental Province became a province of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves and a province of the Empire of Brazil after 1822.

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Took office Left office Duration Notes
1 Carlos Frederico Lecor
(1764–1836)		 20 January 1817 3 February 1826 9 years, 14 days
2 Francisco de Paula Magessi Tavares de Carvalho [pt]
(1769–1847)		 3 February 1826 27 August 1828 2 years, 206 days
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Oriental Province (1825–1828)

In 1825, a group known as the Treinta y Tres Orientales began an insurrection against the Empire of Brazil. These revolutionaries assembled at the Congress of Florida in August 1825 and declared independence from the Empire of Brazil and reunited with the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Took office Left office Duration Notes
1 Juan Antonio Lavalleja
(1784–1853)		 19 September 1825 5 July 1826 289 days Appointed by the Congress of Florida.
2 Joaquín Suárez
(1781–1868)		 5 July 1826 12 October 1827 1 year, 99 days
3 Luis Eduardo Pérez
(1774–1841)		 12 October 1827 27 August 1828 320 days Appointed by Juan Antonio Lavalleja.
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Heads of state of Uruguay as an independent country

Government and Provisional General Captaincy of the Oriental State of Uruguay (1828–1830)

After the Preliminary Peace Convention the Oriental Province gained effective independence from the Empire of Brazil and the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Took office Left office Duration Notes
1 Luis Eduardo Pérez
(1774–1841)		 27 August 1828 1 December 1828 96 days Governor and Provisional Captain General. Appointed by Juan Antonio Lavalleja.
2 Joaquín Suárez
(1781–1868)		 2 December 1828 22 December 1828 20 days Governor and Provisional Captain General. Appointed by the General Constituent Assembly.
3 José Rondeau
(1775–1844)		 22 December 1828[1] 17 April 1830[2][a] 1 year, 116 days Governor and Provisional Captain General. Appointed by the General Constituent Assembly.
4 Juan Antonio Lavalleja
(1784–1853)		 17 April 1830 28 June 1830 72 days Governor and Provisional Captain General. Appointed by the General Constituent Assembly.
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Oriental State of Uruguay (1830–1919)

The Constitution of 1830 comes into force. The president was elected by the legislature for a four-year term.

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Took office Left office Duration Party Elected Notes
– Juan Antonio Lavalleja
(1784–1853)		 28 June 1830 24 October 1830 118 days — — Governor and Provisional Captain General. Appointed by the General Constituent Assembly.
– Luis Eduardo Pérez
(1774–1841)		 24 October 1830 6 November 1830 13 days — — President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
1 Fructuoso Rivera
(1784–1854)		 6 November 1830 24 October 1834[a] 3 years, 352 days — 1830
– Carlos Anaya
(1777–1862)		 24 October 1834 1 March 1835 128 days Colorado — President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
2 Manuel Oribe
(1792–1857)		 1 March 1835 24 October 1838[a] 3 years, 237 days National 1835
– Gabriel Antonio Pereira
(1794–1861)		 24 October 1838 1 March 1839 128 days Colorado — President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
3 Fructuoso Rivera
(1784–1854)		 1 March 1839 1 March 1843 4 years, 0 days Colorado 1839 Second term.
– Manuel Oribe
(1792–1857)		 16 February 1843 8 October 1851 8 years, 234 days National — Second term. Self-proclaimed president of the Gobierno del Cerrito, during the Uruguayan Civil War.
– Joaquín Suárez
(1781–1868)		 1 March 1843 15 February 1852 8 years, 351 days Colorado — President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power. President of the Gobierno de la Defensa, during the Uruguayan Civil War.
– Bernardo Prudencio Berro
(1803–1868)		 15 February 1852 1 March 1852 15 days National — President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
4 Juan Francisco Giró
(1791–1863)		 1 March 1852 25 September 1853[b] 1 year, 208 days National 1852 Ousted from office by a coup d'état.
– Venancio Flores
(1808–1868)		 25 September 1853 12 March 1854 168 days Colorado — Triumvirate.
Fructuoso Rivera
(1784–1854)		 25 September 1853 13 January 1854[c] 110 days Colorado
Juan Antonio Lavalleja
(1784–1853)		 25 September 1853 22 October 1853[c] 27 days —
5 Venancio Flores
(1808–1868)		 12 March 1854 10 September 1855[a] 1 year, 182 days Colorado 1854
– Luis María Lamas
(1793–1864)		 29 August 1855 10 September 1855 12 days Conservative — Self-proclaimed president after the Rebellion of the Conservatives [es].
– Manuel Basilio Bustamante
(1785–1863)		 10 September 1855 15 February 1856 158 days Colorado — President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
– José María Plá
(1794–1869)		 15 February 1856 1 March 1856 15 days Colorado — President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
6 Gabriel Antonio Pereira
(1794–1861)		 1 March 1856 1 March 1860 4 years, 0 days Colorado 1856
7 Bernardo Prudencio Berro
(1803–1868)		 1 March 1860 1 March 1864 4 years, 0 days National 1860
– Atanasio Cruz Aguirre
(1801–1875)		 1 March 1864 15 February 1865[a] 351 days National — President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power. Resigned after the Brazilian invasion.
– Tomás Villalba
(1805–1886)		 15 February 1865 20 February 1865[a] 5 days National — President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power. Resigned after the Brazilian invasion.
– Venancio Flores
(1808–1868)		 20 February 1865 15 February 1868 2 years, 360 days Colorado — De facto president after the Brazilian invasion. Assumed power as Provisional Governor.
– Pedro Varela
(1837–1906)		 15 February 1868 1 March 1868 15 days Colorado — President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
8 Lorenzo Batlle
(1810–1887)		 1 March 1868 1 March 1872 4 years, 0 days Colorado 1868
– Tomás Gomensoro Albín
(1810–1900)		 1 March 1872 1 March 1873 1 year, 0 days Colorado — President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
9 José Eugenio Ellauri
(1834–1894)		 1 March 1873 22 January 1875[a] 1 year, 327 days Colorado 1873
10 Pedro Varela
(1837–1906)		 22 January 1875 10 March 1876[b] 1 year, 48 days Colorado — Ousted by a coup d'état.
– Lorenzo Latorre
(1844–1916)		 10 March 1876 1 March 1879 4 years, 5 days Colorado — Assumed power as Provisional Governor.
11 1 March 1879 15 March 1880[a] 1879
12 Francisco Antonino Vidal
(1825–1889)		 15 March 1880 1 March 1882[a] 1 year, 351 days Colorado —
13 Máximo Santos
(1847–1889)		 1 March 1882 1 March 1886 4 years, 0 days Colorado —
14 Francisco Antonino Vidal
(1825–1889)		 1 March 1886 24 May 1886[a] 84 days Colorado 1886
– Máximo Santos
(1847–1889)		 24 May 1886 18 November 1886[a] 178 days Colorado — President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
15 Máximo Tajes
(1852–1912)		 18 November 1886 1 March 1890 3 years, 103 days Colorado —
16 Julio Herrera y Obes
(1841–1912)		 1 March 1890 1 March 1894 4 years, 0 days Colorado 1890
– Duncan Stewart
(1833–1923)		 1 March 1894 21 March 1894 20 days Colorado — President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
17 Juan Idiarte Borda
(1844–1897)		 21 March 1894 25 August 1897[c] 3 years, 157 days Colorado 1894 Assassinated.
– Juan Lindolfo Cuestas
(1837–1905)		 25 August 1897 10 February 1898 1 year, 174 days Colorado — President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
10 February 1898 15 February 1899[a] De facto president following a self-coup.
– José Batlle y Ordóñez
(1856–1929)		 15 February 1899 1 March 1899 14 days Colorado — President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
18 Juan Lindolfo Cuestas
(1837–1905)		 1 March 1899 1 March 1903 4 years, 0 days Colorado 1899
19 José Batlle y Ordóñez
(1856–1929)		 1 March 1903 1 March 1907 4 years, 0 days Colorado 1903
20 Claudio Williman
(1861–1934)		 1 March 1907 1 March 1911 4 years, 0 days Colorado 1907
21 José Batlle y Ordóñez
(1856–1929)		 1 March 1911 1 March 1915 4 years, 0 days Colorado 1911 Second term.
22 Feliciano Viera
(1872–1927)		 1 March 1915 1 March 1919 4 years, 0 days Colorado 1915
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Oriental Republic of Uruguay (1919–present)

National Council of Administration (1919–1933)

During his second term in office, President José Batlle y Ordóñez proposed constitutional changes to alter the structure of the executive branch to remove powers from a individual presidential figure in order to reduce the risk of that individual seeking dictatorial powers. While his initial proposals were not successful, a compromise resulted in the implementation of the Constitution of 1918. Under this colegiado system, the President shared powers with a bipartisan National Council of Administration who oversaw various bureaucratic organizations. The council was made up of nine members and was headed by its own president which was elected by the legislature in a role similar to that of a prime minister.

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Took office Left office Duration Party Elected Notes
1918 Constitution
(1918–1933)
23 Baltasar Brum
(1883–1933)		 1 March 1919 1 March 1923 4 years, 0 days Colorado 1919 Appointed by congress. The President served as part of the executive alongside the National Council of Administration, headed by a President:
24 José Serrato
(1868–1960)		 1 March 1923 1 March 1927 4 years, 0 days Colorado 1922 First popularly elected president. The President served as part of the executive alongside the National Council of Administration, headed by a President:
25 Juan Campisteguy
(1859–1937)		 1 March 1927 1 March 1931 4 years, 0 days Colorado 1926 The President served as part of the executive alongside the National Council of Administration, headed by a President:
26 Gabriel Terra
(1873–1942)		 1 March 1931 31 March 1933 2 years, 30 days Colorado 1930 The President served as part of the executive alongside the National Council of Administration, headed by a President:
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Unitary Executive (1933–1952)

During the Great Depression the colegiado system came under criticism for mishandling the ecomonic situation in Uruguay. On 31 March 1933, President Gabriel Terra initiated a self-coup dissolving the parliament and National Council of Administration and began ruling by decree. There was widespread support for the coup amongst the political establishment and on 1 April a "March on Montevideo", inspired by Mussolini's March on Rome, was organized to sive a show of popular support. Terra's Marzist government promulgated the 1934 Constitution which replaced the colegiado system with a Council of Ministers (Consejo de Ministros) which consisted of the President and cabinet ministers which were jointly appointed by the President and the General Assembly.

In 1942, Terra's successor Alfredo Baldomir was nearing the end of his term and initiated a military coup. He declared a national emergency and implemented a new constitution. The primary change of this consitution was the restructuring of the legislature.

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Took office Left office Duration Party Election Vice President Notes
Terrist Regime
(1933–1942)
– Gabriel Terra
(1873–1942)		 31 March 1933 18 May 1934 5 years, 80 days Colorado — — De facto president following a self-coup.
18 May 1934 19 June 1938 Alfredo Navarro Provisional president elected by the 3rd National Constituent Convention.
27 Alfredo Baldomir
(1884–1948)		 19 June 1938 21 February 1942 4 years, 255 days Colorado 1938 César Charlone
– 21 February 1942 1 March 1943 — De facto president following a self-coup.
1942 Constitution
(1943–1952)
28 Juan José de Amézaga
(1881–1956)		 1 March 1943 1 March 1947 4 years, 0 days Colorado 1942 Alberto Guani
29 Tomás Berreta
(1875–1947)		 1 March 1947 2 August 1947[c] 154 days Colorado 1946 Luis Batlle Berres
30 Luis Batlle Berres
(1897–1964)		 2 August 1947 1 March 1951 3 years, 211 days Colorado — Alfeo Brum Vice-president under Berreta, assumed the presidency after his death.
31 Andrés Martínez Trueba
(1884–1959)		 1 March 1951 1 March 1952 1 year, 0 days Colorado 1950 The post of President was replaced by the National Council of Government.
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National Council of Government (1952–1967)

Beginning in 1951, a pact between the major political parties called for a referendum to replace the current consitution and return to a colegiado system. The reform was approved by referendum and in 1952 a new constituion was drafted which created the National Council of Government. This council, unlike the previous plural executive had no separately elected President, but instead consisted solely of nine-member council with six members from the largest political party and three from the second largest. The presidency of the council would rotate on an annual basis between the members of the majority party.

More information No., Government ...
No. Government Took office Left office Duration Party Election Notes
1952 Constitution
(1952–1967)
1 National Council of Government 1952–1955 1 March 1952 1 March 1955 3 years, 0 days Colorado — The National Council of Government was headed by a President for the remaining of the 1951–1955 period:
2 National Council of Government 1955–1959 1 March 1955 1 March 1959 4 years, 0 days Colorado 1954 The National Council of Government was headed by a President rotating every year:
3 National Council of Government 1959–1963 1 March 1959 1 March 1963 4 years, 0 days National 1958 The National Council of Government was headed by a President rotating every year:
4 National Council of Government 1963–67 1 March 1963 1 March 1967 4 years, 0 days National 1962 The National Council of Government was headed by a President rotating every year:
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1967 Constitution

The National Council of Government soon lost popular support due to its ineffective control over governmental ministers and lack of unity. A 1966 plebiscite supported the return to a Presidential system. The Constitution of 1967 provided for a strong one-person President who served for 5 years and is bared from immediate reelection.

Starting under the presidency of Jorge Pacheco Areco, the implementation of prompt security measures (medidas prontas de seguridad) led to an effectively permanent state of emergency which in 1973 ultimately resulted in the military staging a coup d'état. While the President remained in power, Uruguay's democratically elected Parliament was dismissed on 27 June 1973 for resisting the junta. A new military controlled national Security Council (COSENA), which was inspired by the Brazilian military dictatorship, came into force and effectively suspended the constitution as overtime the military took control of more aspects of the state. The gradual shift from civilian to military control has led to this period being called the Civic-military dictatorship of Uruguay.

In 1984, a series of general strikes led to the return of democracy in Uruguay. The Naval Club Pact provided for the restoration of the 1967 constitution and the calling of new elections in exchange for blanket amnesty of military officials for the human rights violations which occurred during the dictatorship. On November 25, 1984, elections were held, and following the brief presidency of Rafael Addiego Bruno, on March 1, 1985, Colorado Party candidate Julio María Sanguinetti became the new president. The 1967 constitution has since been significantly amended numerous times, particularly regarding the process of conducting presidential elections, but the General Assembly officially still considers itself to be operating under the 1967 document.[3]

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Took office Left office Duration Party Election Vice President Notes
1967 Constitution
First period in force (1967–1973)
32 Óscar Diego Gestido
(1901–1967)		 1 March 1967 6 December 1967[c] 280 days Colorado 1966 Jorge Pacheco Areco
33 Jorge Pacheco Areco
(1920–1998)		 6 December 1967 1 March 1972 4 years, 86 days Colorado — Alberto Abdala Vice-president under Gestido, assumed the presidency after his death.
34 Juan María Bordaberry
(1928–2011)		 1 March 1972 27 June 1973 1 year, 118 days Colorado 1971 Jorge Sapelli
Civic-military dictatorship
(1973–1985)
— Juan María Bordaberry
(1928–2011)		 27 June 1973 12 June 1976[b] 2 years, 351 days Colorado — Vacant 1973 coup d'état, start of the dictatorship between 1973 and 1985. Ousted from office.
— Alberto Demicheli
(1896–1980)		 12 June 1976 1 September 1976[b] 81 days Colorado — Appointed by the military. Ousted from office.
— Aparicio Méndez
(1904–1988)		 1 September 1976 1 September 1981 5 years, 0 days National — Appointed by the military for a term of 5 years.
— Gregorio Álvarez
(1925–2016)		 1 September 1981 12 February 1985[a] 3 years, 164 days Military — Appointed by the military.
— Rafael Addiego
(1923–2014)		 12 February 1985 1 March 1985 17 days Civic Union — President of the Supreme Court, appointed by the military.
Democratic Restoration
(1985–present)
35 Julio María Sanguinetti
(born 1936)		 1 March 1985 1 March 1990 5 years, 0 days Colorado 1984 Enrique Tarigo First democratic President after the 1973–1985 dictatorship.
36 Luis Alberto Lacalle
(born 1941)		 1 March 1990 1 March 1995 5 years, 0 days National 1989 Gonzalo Aguirre Ramírez
37 Julio María Sanguinetti
(born 1936)		 1 March 1995 1 March 2000 5 years, 0 days Colorado 1994 Hugo Batalla Second term.
Hugo Fernández Faingold
38 Jorge Batlle
(1927–2016)		 1 March 2000 1 March 2005 5 years, 0 days Colorado 1999 Luis Antonio Hierro López
39 Tabaré Vázquez
(1940–2020)		 1 March 2005 1 March 2010 5 years, 0 days Broad Front 2004 Rodolfo Nin Novoa
40 José Mujica
(1935–2025)		 1 March 2010 1 March 2015 5 years, 0 days Broad Front 2009 Danilo Astori
41 Tabaré Vázquez
(1940–2020)		 1 March 2015 1 March 2020 5 years, 0 days Broad Front 2014 Raúl Sendic Rodríguez Second term.[4]
Lucía Topolansky
42 Luis Lacalle Pou
(born 1973)		 1 March 2020 1 March 2025 5 years, 0 days National 2019 Beatriz Argimón [5]
43 Yamandú Orsi
(born 1967)		 1 March 2025 Incumbent
(Term ends on 1 March 2030)		 1 year, 178 days Broad Front 2024 Carolina Cosse
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Timeline

Yamandú OrsiLuis Lacalle PouJosé MujicaTabaré VázquezJorge BatlleLuis Alberto LacalleJulio María SanguinettiRafael Addiego BrunoGregorio ÁlvarezAparicio MéndezAlberto DemicheliJuan María BordaberryJorge Pacheco ArecoÓscar Diego GestidoAlberto HéberWashington BeltránLuis GiannattasioDaniel Fernández CrespoFaustino HarrisonEduardo Víctor HaedoBenito NardoneMartín R. EchegoyenCarlos FischerArturo LezamaAlberto Fermín ZubiríaAndrés Martínez TruebaLuis Batlle BerresTomás BerretaJuan José de AmézagaAlfredo BaldomirGabriel TerraJuan CampisteguyJosé SerratoBaltasar BrumFeliciano VieraClaudio WillimanJosé Batlle y OrdóñezJuan Lindolfo CuestasJuan Idiarte BordaDuncan StewartJulio Herrera y ObesMáximo TajesMáximo SantosFrancisco Antonino VidalLorenzo LatorreJosé Eugenio EllauriTomás GomensoroLorenzo BatllePedro VarelaTomás VillalbaAtanasio Cruz AguirreJosé María PláManuel Basilio BustamanteLuis LamasVenancio FloresJuan Francisco GiróBernardo Prudencio BerroGabriel Antonio PereiraManuel OribeCarlos AnayaFructuoso RiveraJuan Antonio LavallejaJosé RondeauJoaquín SuárezLuis Eduardo Pérez

See also

References

Bibliography

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