National Party (Uruguay)


The National Party, also known as the White Party, is a major political party in Uruguay.

History

It was formed on 10 August 1836. Together with the liberal Colorado Party, it is one of the two traditional groupings dating back to the nineteenth century. Manuel Oribe was its founder. In the civil war of 1864–65 it was ousted by the Colorados who were in power until 1958.
In 1872 the party changed its name from White Party to National Party.
During the mid-20th century a very peculiar phenomenon occurred: a splinter group known as Independent National Party was active between 1931 and 1959 but, although they were de facto a separate party, they permanently insisted that "there is only one National Party".

Electoral history

Presidential elections

Note

Under the electoral system in place at the time called Ley de Lemas system, each political party could have as many as three presidential candidates. The combined result of the votes for a party's candidates determined which party would control the executive branch, and whichever of the winning party's candidates finished in first place would be declared President this system was used form the 1942 election until the 1994 election until in 1996, a referendum amended the constitution to restrict each party to a single presidential candidate, effective from the 1999 elections.

Chamber of Deputies and Senate elections

National Council of Administration and National Council of Government elections

Note

The National Council of Administration ruling alongside the President of the Republic between 1918 and 1933 and it was re-established as National Council of Government was the ruling body in Uruguay between 1952 and 1967

2004 elections

At the 2004 national elections, the National Party won 36 seats out of 99 in the Chamber of Deputies and 11 seats out of 31 in the Senate. Its presidential candidate, Jorge Larrañaga, obtained the same day 35.1% of the valid, popular vote.

2009 elections

At the 2009 national elections, the National Party won 31 seats out of 99 in the Chamber of Deputies and 9 seats out of 31 in the Senate. Its presidential candidate, Luis Alberto Lacalle, obtained on 25 October 29.07% of the valid, popular vote.

2014 elections

At the 2014 elections, its presidential candidate was Luis Lacalle Pou.

2019 elections

In 2019, the National Party returns to the government after thirty years, after Luis Lacalle Pou defeated leftist Daniel Martínez in the second round, with the nationalist as leader of the so-called Coalición Multicolor. This will be the second occasion since the return of democracy and the first of the 21st century when the Party reaches the government.

Sectors and factions