Germany New Uruguayan President Orsi is in office
The new Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi has taken over the reins of government. The left-wing politician took the oath of office in the South American country's parliament. Alongside Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Colombian head of state Gustavo Petro, Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Spain's King Felipe VI, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also attended the ceremony.
02.03.2025, 07:17
SDA
Steinmeier also used the participation of numerous Latin American heads of state and government for bilateral talks. Among others, he met the Brazilian President Lula.
Steinmeier praises stable democracy in Uruguay
Steinmeier will meet Orsi for talks this Sunday. After his arrival, he praised Uruguay as an important partner for Germany. The country has been a stable democracy for many decades, he said. Among other things, Steinmeier referred to the cooperation in the fields of business, science and, more recently, climate protection.
New president acclaimed by supporters
After taking the oath of office, Orsi and Vice President Carolina Cosse drove from Parliament to Independence Square in an open car to the cheers of thousands of supporters. There, the previous President Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou took off his sash to mark the handover of office and put it on his successor Orsi.
In Latin America, which is characterized by strong polarization, political violence and authoritarian tendencies, Uruguay, with its almost 3.5 million inhabitants, is considered a model democratic country. Since the return to democracy 40 years ago, center-right and center-left governments have alternated.
Inflation is quite low, real wages have recovered and unemployment is low. Former teacher Orsi wants to combat poverty during his five-year term of office. Together with Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, Uruguay forms the South American economic alliance Mercosur, which recently negotiated a free trade agreement with the European Union.
