Uruguayan left shows strength, reaches the necessary number for holding referendum

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Uruguayan left showed its muscle by collecting in time, despite the obstacles of the pandemic, the necessary signatures for the holding of a referendum in the country against what they consider “regressive” star law of the Government of Luis Lacalle Pou (center-right).

Although they did not stop collecting the remaining ballots until the last minute, just before parking the truck that transported them this Thursday to the headquarters of the Electoral Court in Montevideo, this was a day of celebration.

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With the delivery of nearly 800,000 signatures, the organization “Yo Firmo” – comprising political and social collectives-, took its first step to try to repeal 135 of the 476 articles of the Law of Urgent Consideration (LUC), approved on July 9, 2020.

“THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE”

Accompanied by a caravan of cars, a bus, and several cyclists, a truck reading “The power of your signature. The power of the people” drove down Montevideo’s central avenue from the headquarters of the Uruguayan trade union central, the PIT-CNT, to the applause and honks of hundreds of supporters.

After almost an hour of driving, the vehicle finally arrived at the Electoral Court, where the unloading of many blue boxes began. Wearing masks but crowding around to film or photograph, the militants seemed relieved and hopeful for the achievement.

Inside were the forms on which more than 25% of the electoral roll – the number needed to achieve a referendum in Uruguay – signed to call for a referendum to repeal 135 articles of the LUC.

The general secretary of the PIT-CNT, Marcelo Abdala, handed in one of the first ones, while another one traveled in the hands of Javier Miranda, president of the leftist coalition that governed Uruguay between 2005 and 2020 and today is in the opposition, the Frente Amplio (FA), while those present chanted: “The people united will never be defeated”.

Once the signatures, which numbered 797,261, have been handed in, the Electoral Court will have 150 days to study them and 120 more to set a date for the vote that will decide whether the referendum will be approved.

A LAW WITHOUT DEBATE

This legislation, which came from the Executive, was approved in July 2020 with reduced deadlines -hence the label “urgent”-, with the votes of the governing coalition and consists of a package of regulations referring to health, security, education, and public company policies, among others.

This law was part of the agreement of the parties governing as a coalition: the Partido Nacional (PN, center-right), the party of President Lacalle Pou; the Partido Colorado (PC, center-right), Cabildo Abierto (CA, right), the Partido Independiente (PI, center-left) and the Partido de la Gente (PG, right).

The bulk of its articles quickly aroused a negative reaction from the PIT-CNT, who claimed that, among other things, the law restricts the right to strike, makes access to housing precarious, and commodifies public education.

Abdala asserted that the LUC is “a law of regressive character” developed “under a format that is planned for something really urgent”.

He emphasized that, without giving time for debate, the government approved “almost 500 articles that deal with the forms of participation of the State in the economy, public enterprises, education, security, labor relations, rental contracts,”

Likewise, the trade unionist recognized the effort of those who, month after month, and despite the pandemic, guaranteed a close dialogue with the citizens. Once informed, they could decide if they wanted to sign.

Among these militants were FA supporters and some groups of the ruling PC and PN, which – without being against the LUC – decided that it was valid to enable the popular consultation, while another independent group promoted – unsuccessfully – repeal of the entire law.

“I believe that there has been a turning point from the political-social point of view because there is going to be a referendum, and this law will be endorsed with the participation and vote of the people”, concluded Abdala.