Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly
Political parties and leaders: National (Blanco) Party, Alberto
VOLONTE Berro; Herrerista faction of the Blanco Party, Luis LACALLE;
Colorado Party, Jorge BATLLE; Broad Front Coalition, Tabare VAZQUEZ
(as of 22 December 1996); New Sector Coalition, Rafael MICHELINI;
Party for the Government by the People (PGP), Hugo BATALLA;
Progressive Encounter (Encuentro Progresista), Tabare VAZQUEZ
International organization participation: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC,
FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN,
UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alvaro DIEZ DE MEDINA SUAREZ chancery : 2715 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316 FAX : [1] (202) 331-8147 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo mailing address : APO AA 34035 telephone: [598] (2) 23 60 61, 48 77 77 FAX: [598] (2) 48 86 11
Flag description: nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy
Economy
Economy - overview: Uruguay's small economy benefits from a favorable climate for agriculture and substantial hydropower potential. Economic development has been restrained in recent years by high - though declining - inflation and extensive government regulation. The SANGUINETTI government's conservative monetary and fiscal policies are aimed at continuing to reduce inflation, at 24.3% at yearend 1996; other priorities include extensive reform of the social security system and increased investment in education. Uruguay recovered from recession in 1996 - partly due to the recovery in Argentina - and ended the year with a nearly 5% rise in GDP. Uruguayan trade continued to expand and the potential for new markets continued to open through the negotiations of Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market) with neighboring countries and the European Union (EU). The economy is expected to continue growing at a healthy rate in 1997 along with other regional economies.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $26 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.9% (1996)