Uruguayan political parties

Last modified: 2000-01-21 by antonio martins
Keywords: uruguay | tupamaros | tupac amaru | artigas (josé gervasio) | faau | frenteamplio | pvp | partido para la vitoria del pueblo | fa |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

• Tupamaros
• F.A.A.U. / Frente amplio / Encuentra Progresista
• Partido para la Vitoria del Pueblo
• Partido Colorados
• Partido Blanco
• Partido Socialista
• Partido Comunista

• Uruguay
• Pampas republic

In 1971, the National Liberation Movement reinforced. It was also called ’Tupamaros’, from the name of the Indian Tupac Amaru, who was quarterred by the Spaniards on 18 May 1781 in Cuzco (Peru) after having fought against colonization for 4 years. (The name Tupac Amaru was reused by the peruvian revolutionary group (M.R.T.A.) which assaulted the Japanese embassy in Lima last year.) The Uruguayan Army defeated the Tupamaros in 1972 and overthrew the elected President Juan Maria Bordaberry on 27 June 1973. Civil governement was reestablished in 1985 with the election of Julio María Sanguinetti as President. The flag of Tupamaros, according to W. Smith [smi80], is the historical Artigas flag defaced with a red star enclosed in a white disc. The star is charged with a black T.
Ivan Sache, 18 Jun 1998

In this image I tried to follow my source (French translation of [ing79]) as closely as possible, I have no other reason to believe that this is the correct one. Is it likely that this political revolutionary flag had precisely defined shades and designs? I suppose that returning to General Artigas’ original flag would provide a sensible comparison. The former Uruguayan jack was even lighter.
Tham-Tâm Lê, 16 Dec 1998

The Frente Amplio is a leftist coalition formed in Uruguay some 30 years ago. They chose one of the first known Artigas flag as their own emblem and have used it ever since. Obviously when the Frente Amplio followers adopted this flag and design, they were evoking the times of the Patria Vieja, (the Old Fatherland).
Jorge Cajarville, 16 Jun 1999

What is then the image at the party website, consisting of such a triband superimposed with a big yellow "FA" vertical digraph which creates a sector from 7 o’clock to 12 o’clock filled with wavy blue stripes on white?
António Martins, 23 Jun 1999

Encuentra Progresista is a center-left alliance, leaded by Tabaré Vázquez, which has won the first round of the presidential elections in Uruguay (second round scheduled on 28 November). The alliance groups the socialists, the communists, former Tupamaro guerilleros and former deceived members of the two main dominants parties of center-right, Colorado and Blanco. Courrier International 472 (18 November 1999) shows a colour picture of a street demoinstration in Montevideo celebrating the victory on 31 October. Most flags are horizontal red-blue-white tricolors, but in proportion 1:2. I don't know if F.A.A.U. is a party member of the alliance or a forerunner of the alliance.

Other flags partially visibleon the picture are:

• a white field with an emblem and letterings «...ENTE ... QUIERDA». The second world is probably IZQUIERDA (left)
• a yellow field with a red V, black 77 and «La Ver...»
• the F.A.A.U. flag with a yellow embelm on it, something like an equal sign over a wide A. [possibly "FA" — ed.]

Other sites:

• F.A.A.U. website
  reported by Dov Gutterman, 25 Mar 1999
• Frente Amplio website
  reported by Dov Gutterman, 14 Jun 1999

Red over black anarchist motive, in a long ratio of approx. 2:5, with large white "P.V.P" (no end dot!) over all, in a particular font.
António Martins, 08 Jul 1999

• Party website
  reported by Dov Gutterman, 16 Jun 1999