Rafael Addiego Bruno
Encyclopedia
Rafael Addiego Bruno is a Uruguay
an jurist
and political figure.
He was President of Uruguay
February - March 1985 as an interim measure, following the resignation, and accession to office, respectively, of Presidents Gregorio Álvarez and Julio María Sanguinetti.
Sanguinetti and his subsequent election to the Presidency in November 1984, opted under pressure to resign in February, 1985.
By 1985, there had been increasing divisions among members of the National Security Council, which had originally sponsored Álvarez's appointment to the Presidency in 1981. In addition, Sanguinetti and his Colorado Party supporters felt they had strong reasons to seek to discredit Álvarez in favour of their candidate. For both the (relatively) moderate members of the National Security Council and for Sanguinetti and his supporters, a mutually acceptable transitional figure was sought.
Defenders of the political arrangement whereby Addiego became President were able to point out that it enabled Sanguinetti to receive the transfer of office from a civilian (Álvarez being a General). To international observers, the public relations aspect of what was billed as Uruguay
's transition to democracy was enhanced by the increased psychological distance between Sanguinetti and Álvarez
. Sceptics were able to recall that since Juan María Bordaberry
's 1973 coup, which had led to the increased involvement of the Uruguayan military in the government, various of the so-called 'Military Government' Presidents - Bordaberry, Demicheli and Méndez, were in fact civilians, and it had been the military-backed National Security Council in any case which had cooperated with the November 1984 Presidential elections. Furthermore, it is an undoubted fact that many members of Sanguinetti's Colorado
party supported rule by decree, both in the preceding 12 years and, indeed, during the extra-parliamentary régime of Gabriel Terra
during the 1930s.
From whatever perspective, however, the reasons which led to Addiego's brief period of Presidential office exemplify something of the nature and even ambiguities underlying the transition to Sanguinetti's presidency.
The episode which led to Addiego's taking up of the interim office of the Uruguayan Presidency arguably has historical parallels with the reluctance of US President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower
to observe pre-inaugural protocols with the outgoing Administration of President Harry S. Truman
in 1953, at a time of heightened political and discoursive tension.
When he succeeded to the Presidency, Addiego had not hitherto held the office of Vice President of Uruguay
, since that office had been in abeyance since 1973. It is to be noted, however, that following Addiego's reliquishing of Presidential office, the office of Vice President of Uruguay
was revived.
However, he has subsequently identified himself with the Uruguayan Unión Cívica
.
After relinquishing the interim Presidency in March 1985, he continued to serve as President of the Supreme Court, stepping down in 1993.
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
and political figure.
He was President of Uruguay
President of Uruguay
The President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay is the head of state of Uruguay. His or her rights are determined in the Constitution of Uruguay. Conforms with the Secretariat of the Presidency, the Council of Ministers and the Director of the Office of Planning and Budget, the executive branch...
February - March 1985 as an interim measure, following the resignation, and accession to office, respectively, of Presidents Gregorio Álvarez and Julio María Sanguinetti.
Background
Addiego had been President of the Supreme Court since 1984 when the sitting President, General Gregorio Álvarez, who did not look favourably on the candidacy of the Colorado Party'sColorado Party (Uruguay)
The Colorado Party is a political party in Uruguay.- Aims :It unites Conservative, Moderate and Social democratic groups. It was the dominant party of government almost without exception during the stabilisation of the Uruguayan republic....
Sanguinetti and his subsequent election to the Presidency in November 1984, opted under pressure to resign in February, 1985.
By 1985, there had been increasing divisions among members of the National Security Council, which had originally sponsored Álvarez's appointment to the Presidency in 1981. In addition, Sanguinetti and his Colorado Party supporters felt they had strong reasons to seek to discredit Álvarez in favour of their candidate. For both the (relatively) moderate members of the National Security Council and for Sanguinetti and his supporters, a mutually acceptable transitional figure was sought.
President of Uruguay (interim)
Thus it was Addiego who briefly came to serve out the remainder of Álvarez's expected term of office until President-elect Sanguinetti was sworn in at the beginning of March 1985.Defenders of the political arrangement whereby Addiego became President were able to point out that it enabled Sanguinetti to receive the transfer of office from a civilian (Álvarez being a General). To international observers, the public relations aspect of what was billed as Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
's transition to democracy was enhanced by the increased psychological distance between Sanguinetti and Álvarez
Gregorio Conrado Álvarez
Gregorio Conrado Álvarez Armelino is a Uruguayan general and former dictator. He served as the de facto president of Uruguay from 1981 until 1985.-Background:...
. Sceptics were able to recall that since Juan María Bordaberry
Juan María Bordaberry
Juan María Bordaberry Arocena was a Uruguayan politician and cattle rancher, who first served as President from 1972 until 1976, including as a dictator from 1973 until his ouster in a 1976 coup...
's 1973 coup, which had led to the increased involvement of the Uruguayan military in the government, various of the so-called 'Military Government' Presidents - Bordaberry, Demicheli and Méndez, were in fact civilians, and it had been the military-backed National Security Council in any case which had cooperated with the November 1984 Presidential elections. Furthermore, it is an undoubted fact that many members of Sanguinetti's Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
party supported rule by decree, both in the preceding 12 years and, indeed, during the extra-parliamentary régime of Gabriel Terra
Gabriel Terra
Dr. Gabriel Terra Leivas was the President of Uruguay from 1931 to 1938.- Background :Born in Montevideo to a wealthy family, he graduated from the University of Uruguay in 1895, and subsequently joined the faculty....
during the 1930s.
From whatever perspective, however, the reasons which led to Addiego's brief period of Presidential office exemplify something of the nature and even ambiguities underlying the transition to Sanguinetti's presidency.
The episode which led to Addiego's taking up of the interim office of the Uruguayan Presidency arguably has historical parallels with the reluctance of US President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
to observe pre-inaugural protocols with the outgoing Administration of President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
in 1953, at a time of heightened political and discoursive tension.
When he succeeded to the Presidency, Addiego had not hitherto held the office of Vice President of Uruguay
Vice President of Uruguay
-List of Vice Presidents of Uruguay:Parties: Colorado Party, National Party, Frente Amplio-History of the office:The office of Vice President of Uruguay dates from 1934 ....
, since that office had been in abeyance since 1973. It is to be noted, however, that following Addiego's reliquishing of Presidential office, the office of Vice President of Uruguay
Vice President of Uruguay
-List of Vice Presidents of Uruguay:Parties: Colorado Party, National Party, Frente Amplio-History of the office:The office of Vice President of Uruguay dates from 1934 ....
was revived.
Political affiliation and later career
During the 1973-1985 period of civilian-military rule in the later part of which Addiego Bruno participated as President of the Supreme Court and subsequently interim President of the Republic, his overt political affiliation was not apparent.However, he has subsequently identified himself with the Uruguayan Unión Cívica
Civic Union (Uruguay)
Civic Union is a small Uruguayan political party.It was founded in 1971 by dissidents of the Christian Democratic Party who did not want to join the Frente Amplio alliance. The party delivered a minister of defense in 1985, after parliamentary democracy was restored to Uruguay.The party...
.
After relinquishing the interim Presidency in March 1985, he continued to serve as President of the Supreme Court, stepping down in 1993.
See also
- Civic Union (Uruguay)#Rafael Addiego Bruno
- Politics of UruguayPolitics of UruguayThe Politics of Uruguay abide by a presidential representative democratic republic, under which the President of Uruguay is both the head of state and the head of government, as well as a multiform party system. The president exercises executive power and Legislative power is vested in the two...
- Vice President of Uruguay#Lack of inherent legal position
- Salto Department#Noted local individuals
