Cornelius Granig

President Austro-Uruguayan Society

May, 16th, 2011

Samoa

Uruguay

The treasured pearl of Latin America

Agenda

1. Overview

2. History

3. Constitution

4. Political System

5. Challenges

Overview

A brief overview about Latin AmericaDefinition: The region on the American continent in which Romance languages are spoken (Spanish, Portugese)

20 sovereign countries with 600 Mio. inhabitantsNorth America: MexicoCentral America: Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras,

Panama, NicaraguaCaribic: Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican RepublicSouth America: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay,

Uruguay, Argentina, Chile; Brazil

Not part of Latin America areNetherlands Antilles, Haiti, Belize, Surinam, Guayana, French Guayana,other English or French speaking Carribean states

Mega-Cities

1. Sao Paulo (19.1 Mio. Inhabitants) – world rank 62. Mexico City (18.4)3. Buenos Aires (12.3)4. Rio de Janeiro (11.1)5. Lima (7.7)6. Bogota (7.4)7. Santiao de Chile (5.6)8. Belo Horizonte (4.6)9. Guadelajara (4)10.Caracas (2.6)

Data from 2008http://populataion.mongabay.com

Languages

SpanishIs the main language in 19 of the countries(86 Mio. Mexico, 34 Mio. Colombia, 33 Mio. Argentina, 22 Venezuela, 20 Peru, 10 Cuba, 10 Ecuador, 3 Mio. Uruguay)

comparison: spoken in Spain by 28 Mio. people

Portuguesespoken in Brazil by 163 Mio. people comparison: spoken in Portugal by 10 Mio. people

Many indigenous languagesQuechua in Peru, Kichwa in Ecuador, Nahuatl and 62 other in Mexico, 58 in Colombia, Guarani in Paraguay, Mapudungun in Chile, Aymara in Bolovia, Chile and Rapanui

International Organisations

OAS (Organization of American States)HQ in Washington35 members (all states on the American continent except Honduras)Cubas suspension was revoked in 2009

Andean Pact (Communidad Andino – CAN)HQ in Lima4 members (Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia)associated Argentina, Brayil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile

MERCOSUR (Mercado Común del Sur)HQ in Montevideo5 members (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela)associated Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Perufree trade partners: Egypt, Israel

What is special about most of the countries

Indigenous languages coexist with Spanish/Portugese

Almost all countries had a military government in the 1970s/80s

Almost all countries saw a move to left-winged governments in the last 10 years

Guerilla movements have dramatically decreased

Overview Uruguay

Where is the Eastern Republic of Uruguay?In the north of Argentina (30 min. flight from Buenos Aires to Montevideo)In the south of Brazil, on the Atlantic coast20 hours from Kiev (due to 2 stops)

Very flat, small country176.000 square km, capital Montevideo

3.5 Mio. inhabitantsAlmost half in the capital

Very well developed countryPeso is the national currencyBest rated in life/human development in Latin America2nd least corrupt country in Latin America (after Chile)

4 times soccer champion (1924-1928-1930-1950)

History of Uruguay

1680 Colonel del Sacramento founded byPortugese

18th century Foundation of Montevideo by the Spanish

1830 Independence after a struggle betweenArgentina, Brayil and Spain

1903-1907 Josef Batlle y Ordonez president

1st WW Uruguay in the war against Germany

2nd WW Uruguay in the war against Germany – brokediplomatic relations with them like 21 otherlatin american countries (except

Argentina)

History of Uruguay

1960 The urban guerilla Tupamaros emerges

1968 Jose Pacheco declares state of emergency

1972 Juan Maria Bordaberry became presidentand after 1973-1976 dictator

1976-1981 Aparicia Mendez leads thecivic-military government

1980 Referendum to return to democracy

1981-1985 General Gregorio Conrado Alvarez de factopresident and military dictator

History of Uruguay

1985-1990 Julio Maria Sanguetti president(second term 1995-2000)

Return to democracy

2000-2005 Jose Batlle Ibanez (junior) as Urugayslast president from the Colorados

2005-2010 Tabare Vazquez – first left wingedpresident (Frente Amplio)

2011- José Mujica, a former Tupamarofighter, becomes president

Operation ”Condor”

A campaign of political repression involving assassination and intelligence operations implemented in 1975 by the right-winged dictators of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil.

The US was most likely supervising that.

Uruguayans were kidnapped and brought to Brazil and (and some to Argentina) – where they were tortured, and some even killed.

300 people disappeared.

Constitution and country setup

Constitution from 1967 (based on 1930 version)

Presidential representative democratic republicCentralized parliamentTwo chambers of the General Assembly

Supreme court is the highest courtJudges elected for 10 years by the General Assembly

Direct DemocracyChanges of the constitution by referendum

The president

Since 2010 José Mujica- Elected by direct popular election- Is head of state and head of the government- 5 years in office, without possible immediate re-election

- Commander-In-Chief of the army- Has the right to veto against laws

- Can declare the state of emergency- Prepares the state budget

President was 10 years in jail- better known as “El Pepe”- was a leader of the Tupamaros National Liberation Movement, a

revolutionary group that, like Robin Hood, robbed from rich businesses and banks

- drives by himself in a Volkswagen Beetle to the office- donates 87% of his salary to poor people

The vice president

Since 2010 Danilo Astori- elected by the public together with the president- in case of the absence of the president, his office is exercised

- Former minister of economy- He is the leader of the Asamblea Urugay party, which is a social

democratic party, and part of the ruling Frente Amplio

- Relatively unimportant politicalposition with no big history

- Since 1934 in the constitution

The parliament (Asamblea General)

Chamber of Deputies- 99 members- Elected for 5 years- Proportional representation

Chamber of Senators- 31 members- 30 members elected for a 5 year term- and the vice president

The last election was in 2009.

Political parties- Broad Front (Frente Amplio) – left winged coalition- National Party (Blancos) – right-winged conservative party- Colorado Party (unites a conservative, moderate and social

democratic group of votes)

Economy

In the shadow of the Argentina crisis- 2002 big economy crisis, after Argentina collapsed (-12% GDP)

but- Uruguayan beef is a worldwide brand- Uruguayan wine out of Tannat grapes is a best-seller

- well educated workforce for IT offshore industry- Tourism is growing

Important trading partners- Exports: Brazil (20%), China 9.45, Argentina 8, Germany 5- Imports: Argentina (20%), Brazil 17, China 10, US 10

Financial system and currency- Peso Uruguayo is the national currency- No dollar fixing since 2002 (at this time the currency lost 90%)- dual system of national and offshore banks

Economic overview – MERCOSUR states

Country Inhabitants Mill. sq km BIP %

Argentina 31.9 2.767 11.9

Bolivia 7.1 1.099 0.7

Brazil 147.4 8.512 38.7

Chile 13 0.757 3.4

Paraguay 4.2 0.407 0.7

Uruguay 3.1 0.177 1.1

Latin America 427.3 19.949 sq km 100%

Source: Inter-American Development Bank, 1990(Mercosur members and associated states Chile and Bolivia)

Social welfare

“Switzerland” of South America- This dramatically changed after 2002 (e. g. poverty of children

increased between 1999 from 11% to 24% in 2002)- Social spending is still among the highest in the region

Challenges

Economic crisis, and the fight against it(Uruguay was almost bankrupt in 2002)

Conflicts with Argentina

Sellout of water-reserves of Montevideo (Guarani) andother state-owned companies

Poor people, who live from waste collection

Punishment for the heads of the military dictatorship

How to enjoy Uruguay

Milonga The tango comes from Uruguay (the Argentinians deny it) – Milongas are

dancing events that start at midnight, all over the country.

CandombeIs the psychodelic drum music of the descendants of the slaves, that came in the 18th century. Almost all over the year, people gather in Montevideo and walk with their drums through the city.

Punta del EsteIs the “Marbella” of Latin America.

Mate teaIs a “social” drink, that everybody has with him on the street or on the beach.

Best known things

Dulce de leccheA very thick caramel based spread.

Uruguayan beefThe best part of Asado.

Ruben Rada“Quien VA A Cantar”.

NTVG (No te va gustar)“Sólo De Noche”.

PoloA team sport for horse lovers.

About me

Cornelius GranigPresident of the Austro-Uruguayan Society

StudiesPolitical Science (University of Vienna)e-Government and New Public Management (Danube University Krems)Banking (Kiev)

Professional ExperienceStarted as radio and print journalistSince 15 years manager in international companies

In Ukraine since 2008Deputy Chairman of the Board ofRaiffeisen Bank Aval, Kiev

Contact details

Thank you!

cornelius.granig@gmail.com

http://www.uruguay.at