Jorge Batlle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jorge Batlle
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 38th President of Uruguay | |
| In office 1 March 2000 – 1 March 2005 |
|
| Vice President | Luis Antonio Hierro López |
| Preceded by | Julio María Sanguinetti |
| Succeeded by | Tabaré Vázquez |
| Senator of Uruguay | |
| In office 15 February 1995 – 26 April 1999 |
|
| Constituency | At-large |
| In office 15 February 1985 – 29 May 1989 |
|
| Constituency | At-large |
| Representative of Uruguay | |
| In office 15 February 1959 – 15 February 1967 |
|
| Constituency | Montevideo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 October 1927 Montevideo, Uruguay |
| Died | 24 October 2016 (aged 88) Montevideo, Uruguay |
| Resting place | Central Cemetery of Montevideo |
| Political party | Colorado Party |
| Spouses |
Noemí Lamuraglia
(m. 1957; div. 1983)Mercedes Menafra
(m. 1989) |
| Relations | José Batlle y Ordóñez (great-uncle) |
| Children | Raúl Lorenzo Beatriz |
| Parents | Luis Batlle Berres Matilde Ibáñez Tálice |
| Alma mater | University of the Republic |
Jorge Batlle (born October 25, 1927, died October 24, 2016) was an important politician and lawyer from Uruguay. He was a member of the Colorado Party. Jorge Batlle served as the President of Uruguay from 2000 to 2005.
He became president on March 1, 2000. He was elected by the people of Uruguay the year before. Jorge Batlle was the fourth president from the Batlle family. His own father, Luis Batlle Berres, was also a president. The Batlle family has a long history in Uruguayan politics. Jorge Batlle started his political career in the 1950s.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jorge Batlle was born in 1927. His parents were Luis Batlle Berres and Matilde Ibáñez Tálice. He had two siblings, Luis and Matilde. His family included other Uruguayan presidents, like his great-uncle José Batlle y Ordóñez and Lorenzo Batlle.
In 1956, Jorge Batlle finished his studies. He earned a degree in Law and Social Sciences from the University of the Republic. Before becoming a politician, he worked in journalism. He worked at Radio "Ariel" and for the newspaper "Acción".
Political Career Before Presidency
Jorge Batlle began his political journey in the Colorado Party. In 1958, he was first elected as a Congressman. He tried to become president several times. He ran in 1966, 1971, 1989, and 1994, but did not win.
During a time when the military was involved in Uruguay's government (1973–1985), Jorge Batlle was not allowed to hold political jobs. He was even held by authorities sometimes. In 1985, when democracy returned, he led the first meeting of the new Congress. He was very active in making laws. Finally, in 1999, he won the presidential election. He took office in 2000.
Leading Uruguay as President
Jorge Batlle became president during a challenging time for Uruguay. The country faced a difficult economic situation. Many people were struggling financially. He worked hard to manage the country's money carefully. This helped Uruguay be seen as a country that handled its economy well. The United States, led by President George W. Bush, even provided financial help to Uruguay.
During his presidency, there was an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. This disease affected farm animals and threatened Uruguay's ability to sell its beef to other countries. Before his term ended, Uruguay successfully got rid of the disease. This helped the country's beef exports recover.
President Batlle strongly supported MERCOSUR. This is a group of South American countries that work together on trade. He believed it was important for Uruguay to be part of the world economy. He also wanted to strengthen ties with the United States. He had a disagreement with Cuba because he spoke out about human rights issues there. He was a strong supporter of free trade and was against rules that limited trade between countries.
Later Life and Legacy
After his time as president ended in 2005, Jorge Batlle remained involved in politics. He often shared his opinions on current events. He wrote in newspapers and used social media. He would sometimes comment on the actions of the presidents who came after him.
Death
Jorge Batlle passed away on October 24, 2016. He had fainted and hit his head during an event. He was taken to the hospital and had surgery. However, the operation was not successful. He died one day before his 89th birthday. Uruguay declared a day of national mourning to honor him.
See also
- Politics of Uruguay
- List of political families#Uruguay
