Uruguay: a farmers’ movement considers becoming political party

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The agricultural producers’ movement Un Solo Uruguay, created just over four years ago to channel the sector’s demands, is considering becoming a political party with a view to the 2024 general elections.

The organization’s executive committee, meeting in Maldonado, resolved to leave the decision in the hands of the respective regional boards, according to the newspapers El País and La República.

“Even though we have always tried to be a non-partisan social movement, there are crucial issues for the movement, but unfortunately, years go by, and we do not see progress in that sense,” explained leader Guillermo Franchi.

He added that in this context, “people are beginning to rethink what to do, whether to continue claiming in this line or try to form a political force”.

Franchi clarified that if it were to become a political party, Un Solo Uruguay would not identify itself “neither with the left nor with the right, but neither with the center”.

“We are deeply nationalist but not of the National Party” but “nationalists of the nation,” he indicated.

“Our vision has nothing to do with ideologies, utopias, dogmatism, or anything,” but “focuses on the structural problems of Uruguay,” the spokesperson completed.

Un Solo Uruguay was born at the beginning of 2018 to demand a set of measures from the government, then in charge of President Tabaré Vázquez of the Frente Amplio (center-left).

The group gained notoriety when in February of that year, some of its leaders argued at the headquarters of the Ministry of Livestock with Vázquez, whom they called a “liar” and challenged him: “See you at the polls.”

Franchi affirmed that the organization is also disenchanted with the current government of President Luis Lacalle Pou, of the National Party (white, conservative), after having had “hopes” that “he would be more sensitive to the producers’ demands”.

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