List of political parties in Uruguay

Political parties in Uruguay lists political parties in Uruguay. Uruguay has a multi-party system, with three dominant political parties, with extreme difficulty for anybody to achieve electoral success under the banner of any other party. It may be said that to some extent the 'fault lines' in Uruguay's politics have run within the historically dominant Colorado and National parties. Uruguay underwent an intermittent series of civil wars through much of the 19th century, which ended in 1904 and the party system has in the past reflected regional loyalties which emerged during that period. However, with the eclipse in 2004 of the Colorado Party and, indeed, the cooperation of the Colorado and National parties during the 1999 Presidential elections, some evident relalignment of traditional loyalties has come into play. However, the independence of both parties is maintained by members of Colorado and National parties.

It must be added that the participation of leading figures from both the Colorado and National parties in the civilian-military administrations of 1973-1985 may have played a role in causing long-term traditional party loyalties to shift somewhat. Critics of these two parties may argue that they have to some extent been compromised with the past willingness of some of their prominent members to work with the civilian-military administrations of 1973-1985. Supporters may argue that in the difficult circumstances of the years in question such participation as was afforded by Colorado and National members to the civilian-military administrations was against the background of political figures (from both EP-FA-NM and National parties, such as Seregni and Wilson Ferreira Aldunate) who were exiled and/or incarcerated, thus playing no part at all in the country's affairs until circumstances were more fortuitous for them. Further more, Wilson Ferreira Aldunate and Seregni were banned from participating in the first "return to democracy" elections of 1984, where Julio María Sanguinetti was elected.

It may also be said, however, that economic problems have substantially contributed to the Uruguayan electorate's willingness in 2004 to move away from the traditional parties.

The parties

Main parties

*Colorado Party
*National Party
*Independent Party
*Broad Front ("Frente Amplio")
**Uruguay Assembly ("Asamblea Uruguay")
**Broad Front Confluence ("Confluencia Frenteamplio")
**May 26 Movement ("Movimiento 26 de Mayo")
**Current 78 ("Corriente 78")
**Movement of Popular Participation ("Movimiento de Participación Popular")
**Christian Democratic Party of Uruguay ("Partido Demócrata Cristiano del Uruguay")
**Communist Party of Uruguay ("Partido Comunista del Uruguay")
**Party of the Communes ("Partido de los Comunes")
**Socialist Party of Uruguay ("Partido Socialista del Uruguay")
**Artiguista Fall ("Vertiente Artiguista")
**National Alliance ("Alianza Nacional")
**New Space ("Nuevo Espacio")

Minor parties

*Civic Union
*Intransigent Party
*Liberal Party
*Partido del Sol "green"

ee also

* Index of political parties to browse parties by name
* List of political parties to browse parties by country
* List of political parties by ideology to browse parties by name
* Membership of internationals to browse parties by membership of internationals
* Liberalism in Uruguay