RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Uruguay, which upheld its concept of “responsible freedom” in the management of the pandemic and achieved a high vaccination rate compared to its neighbors, also saw the exit of its first “unicorn” from New York’s Nasdaq index.
REOPENING OF BORDERS
After 20 months closed due to the pandemic, during which only nationals, residents or foreigners with exceptional permission were allowed to enter the country, Uruguay reopened its borders on November 1 to any vaccinated person (i.e. arriving 14 days after completing the vaccination schedule) and with a negative PCR test.
In addition to offering a booster dose to foreigners wishing to be vaccinated during their vacations, the South American country lifted the requirement of a second PCR test 7 days after entry.
END OF THE TABAREZ PROCESS
In this secular country where soccer is a religion, the departure of coach Óscar Washington Tabárez after a string of poor results in the South American qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup became the subject of national debate.
His dismissal was announced on November 19 after more than 15 years as manager, during which Uruguay won a Copa America, finished 4th in the World Cup in South Africa and had its players as stars of the world’s top teams.
REFERENDUM AGAINST LACALLE POU’S FLAGSHIP LAW
A strong campaign of social organizations, led by the trade union central, the PIT-CNT, and the Frente Amplio (FA), a left-wing coalition which governed Uruguay between 2005 and 2020 and is currently the main national opposition, achieved the 671,544 signatures required to put the Urgent Consideration Law (LUC) to a referendum, Luis Lacalle Pou’s flagship during his electoral campaign.
There will be 135 articles, including issues related to economy, education or housing, submitted to a referendum on March 27. The collection of signatures amidst the hardest moments of the pandemic in Uruguay revealed the left-wing’s muscle behind one of the blows suffered by the government in 2021.
CABINET CHANGES
If the first year of Lacalle Pou’s term (2020-2025) closed with the resignation of his appointed Foreign Minister Ernesto Talvi, replaced by Francisco Bustillo, and the creation of the Environment Ministry, filled by Adrián Peña, 2021 saw the change of 5 of the 13 Ministers (today 14) who comprised the Cabinet on March 1, 2020.
The death of Minister of Interior Jorge Larrañaga, led the then head of Transportation and Public Works Luis Alberto Heber to take over, while the latter’s role was filled by José Luis Falero; Social Development Minister Pablo Bartol and Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Carlos María Uriarte were dismissed and replaced by Fernando Mattos and Martín Lema, respectively; while Minister of Tourism Germán Cardoso resigned and Tabaré Viera took his place.
FIRST UNICORN IN NEW YORK
dLocal, a company specialized in payment solutions and which became Uruguay’s first unicorn in September 2020 after reaching a valuation of over US$1 billion, was listed on the New York Stock Exchange on June 3.
It became the first company to go public (in this case, the Nasdaq index) in the 21st century and did so through an IPO (initial public offering), for which high demand the previous day raised the placement price from the US$16-18 initially expected to US$21.
VARIANTS AND VACCINATION
Uruguay went from being a model country in the fight against Covid-19 to making world headlines as one of the worst countries in terms of deaths per million inhabitants in the second quarter of 2021, when the emergence of the P1 variant coexisted with the Executive’s decision – in defiance of scientists – not to implement a lockdown and to maintain the motto of “responsible freedom.”
Confidence in the vaccines – whose administration is not compulsory – and the population’s high rate of adherence – over 75% have the full scheme and 1.5 million of the country’s 3.5 million inhabitants have received a booster dose – prompted health authorities to dispense with the PCR test in asymptomatic individuals, even if they have been in contact with an infected person, provided they have been administered the three doses.
A WEEK OF DRINKS
Between November 20 and 27, Montevideo dressed up to host the finals of the South American – women and men’s – Libertadores Cups, an unprecedented event in the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) tournaments.
Five Brazilian and a Colombian team competed for the continental titles and it was Palmeiras, Athletico Paranaense and Corinthians that celebrated in a mega-event that combined sport and business, as the arrival of tens of thousands of fans brought extra income for the hard-hit tourism sector.
THE “NEW” CENTENARIO
The venue that hosted the first World Cup final in history (1930), the Centenario Stadium, underwent a renovation process for several months, which even led the national team to play away from its natural venue, in order to host the Sudamericana and Libertadores finals.
The US$6 million financial injection from CONMEBOL enabled the renovation of the press area, booths, dressing rooms and stands, as well as the installation of state-of-the-art lights and a turf transferred from Brazil to elevate the Centenario to the category of candidate to host the 2030 World Cup.
THE MERCOSUR REBEL
Uruguay’s critical stance towards the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), in evidence since Lacalle Pou’s inauguration, reached its peak during the last Summit, held on December 17, when it blocked the reduction of the Common External Tariff (CET), agreed by its partners (Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil).
The intention to make the bloc more flexible and “open to the world” led the Uruguayan Executive to reaffirm its first steps towards future Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with China and Turkey, negotiations with which will take place in 2022.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IN URUGUAYAN WATERS
In order to explore Uruguayan waters at depths little studied, National Geographic Pristine Seas undertook two trips to capture unprecedented images of the area’s biodiversity.
The mission’s goal was to produce both an audiovisual and a scientific product that would help the South American country update its marine conservation efforts and create marine reserves.