Jorge Washington Larrañaga Fraga (8 August 1956 – 22 May 2021) was an Uruguayan

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

of the National Party (PN) who was

Minister of the Interior An interior minister (sometimes called a minister of internal affairs or minister of home affairs) is a cabinet official position that is responsible for internal affairs, such as public security, civil registration and identification, emergency ...

from 1 March 2020 until his death. He also previously served as Intendant of Paysandú from 1990 to 1999, as well as a

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

between 2000 and 2020.

Background

Larrañaga grew up and attended school in Paysandú. He studied law at the

Universidad de la República The University of the Republic ( es, Universidad de la República, sometimes ''UdelaR'') is Uruguay's oldest public university. It is by far the country's largest university, as well as the second largest public university in South America and t ...

and practiced until 1990, specializing in civil and labour law. He took a series of administrative posts in the National Party, culminating in his presidency of the Party's departmental commission in

Paysandú Paysandú () is the capital of Paysandú Department in western Uruguay. Location The city is located on the banks of the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina. It lies northwest of Montevideo via Route 1 and Route 3, on the ju ...

(1985–1989).

Prominence in the National Party

He was elected Intendant in 1989 and won a second term in 1994. He unsuccessfully contested internal party elections for vice presidential candidate in 1999. Technically it was Juan Andrés Ramírez who was running for presidential candidate that year. Had Ramírez won, it was assumed the National Convention of the National Party would choose Larrañaga as the vice presidential candidate as Ramírez–Larrañaga were seen as a joint ticket. Soon the National Alliance (''"Alianza Nacional"'') sector was founded and during the presidency of

Jorge Batlle Ibáñez Jorge Luis Batlle Ibáñez (; ''Batlle'' locally or ; 25 October 1927 – 24 October 2016) was a Uruguayan politician and lawyer, and a member of the Colorado Party. He served as the President of Uruguay from 2000 to 2005. Dr. Jorge Batlle ...

they increasingly became opponents. In 2004 he won the internal party election and was chosen as the party's presidential candidate.

Presidential elections

2004

On 31 October 2004 a national election was held. Larrañaga obtained over 34% of the vote. The election was won by

Tabaré Vázquez Tabaré Ramón Vázquez Rosas (; ''Vázquez Rosas'' locally ; 17 January 19406 December 2020) was a Uruguayan politician who served as the 41st president of Uruguay from 2015 to 2020. He previously served from 2005 to 2010 as the 39th presiden ...

who obtained over 50% of the vote.

2009

In June 2009, he ran again in the internal party election looking to be presidential candidate. This election was won by

Luis Alberto Lacalle Luis Alberto Lacalle de Herrera, Order of St Michael and St George, GCMG (; ''Lacalle'' locally or ; born 13 July 1941), is a Uruguayan politician and lawyer who served as President of Uruguay from 1990 to 1995. Background His mother, María ...

and Larrañaga was to be the candidate to the vice presidency in the October general elections.

2014

In June 2014, Larrañaga ran in the internal party election, losing to

Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou Luis Alberto Aparicio Alejandro Lacalle Pou (; ''Luis Lacalle'' locally or ; born 10 August 1973) is a Uruguayan politician and lawyer serving as President of Uruguay since 1 March 2020. Son of former president Luis Alberto Lacalle, Lacalle ...

. Afterwards he ran as his running mate.

2019

In June 2019, Larrañaga ran in the internal party election, losing to Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou. Larrañaga was a candidate to the Senate. He also promoted the 2019 Uruguayan constitutional referendum on

public security Public security or public safety is the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety and security of the public from significant danger, injury, or property damage. It is often conducted by a state government to ensure ...

. No presidential candidate endorsed his proposal, but many are proposing similar measures.

Death

On 22 May 2021, Larrañaga suddenly died of a heart attack. He was mourned by the government and several political figures of all ideologies.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Larranaga, Jorge 1956 births 2021 deaths 20th-century Uruguayan lawyers Candidates for President of Uruguay National Party (Uruguay) politicians Members of the Senate of Uruguay Intendants of Paysandú Department Uruguayan vice-presidential candidates Interior Ministers of Uruguay People from Paysandú University of the Republic (Uruguay) alumni Uruguayan people of Spanish descent Uruguayan people of Basque descent Burials in Paysandú Department