Uruguayan Parliament expects presidential veto of forestry law

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Since then, the President Lacalle Pou threatened to veto the law if it were to be endorsed by the Senate, which indeed occurred recently.

The bill, an initiative of the Cabildo Abierto party (CA) with the support of the Frente Amplio, provided that the total planted productive and general forests could not exceed 10% of the country’s surface under agricultural exploitation, with the forest surface currently exceeding 1 million hectares.

In response to the Executive’s announcement of the veto, CA Senator Guillermo Domenech criticized the government for prioritizing “the interests of two multinational companies,” referring to cellulose producers for the paper industry.

CA leader Guido Manini considered that the presidential veto was a mistake and visited Lacalle Pou’s office to persuade him to desist, who was waiting for him with the signed veto decree.

These events also marked another chapter of conflict between Cabildo Abierto and the other members of the ruling Nacional and Colorado parties’ electoral coalition.

Senator Alejandro Sanchez reiterated his opinion that the Executive’s decision to use a constitutional resource against the will of the Legislative “is a bad sign.”

Regarding the day’s session, the also president of the Permanent Committee noted that a special majority of 3/5 of the votes is required to lift the presidential order, just as to accept it.

He pointed out that among the likely procedures, there would be 2 sessions held and after 30 days the veto would either be final or it would be partially limited to the bill’s fundamental articles to protect lands that could be used for dairy production.