In the first months of Yamandú Orsi's administration, the Uruguayan ruling party faced significant difficulties in the Chamber of Deputies due to the lack of a majority. However, with a strategy that combines political gestures, territorial negotiation, and active listening, the president began to turn things around. The key appears to lie in the country's interior, where mayors from various parties are beginning to play a fundamental role.
The Broad Front has 48 representatives and needs at least two more votes to approve any bill without resorting to the Senate. The first sessions revealed a complex scenario: the creation of three municipalities was thwarted by one vote, and a tribute to Raúl Sendic failed due to the absence of a ruling party legislator.
Despite these initial setbacks, the situation began to change. The FA reached agreements with sectors of the opposition on key projects such as euthanasia and the Accountability Report. In the latter case, it had the support of Cabildo Abierto, while on other issues, such as the rescue of the CASMU (National Institute of Social Security) and the Professionals Fund (Caja de Profesionales), it garnered votes from white, Colorado, and independent legislators.
In parallel with these negotiations, Orsi began to deploy a more territorial strategy. Aware of the influence of departmental governments, the president focused on reaching out to mayors in the interior, including those from the National Party. These local leaders, often distant from Montevideo's centralism, value direct dialogue and the opportunity to influence the national agenda.
A turning point was the meeting between Orsi and the mayors at the Suárez and Reyes residence, a barbecue that, beyond its symbolic nature, served as a concrete gesture of openness. There, concerns were shared, proposals were heard, and a channel of communication began to be consolidated that could lead to key legislative support.
One of the most influential mayors, Nicolás Olivera of Paysandú, emphasized that if there is a willingness to listen and resolve, they have no problem supporting government projects, as long as they benefit their departments. This statement encapsulates the spirit of this new era: fewer hardline partisan lines and more openness to regional interests.
In this sense, some recent projects show how this strategy can yield results. The approval of measures for border areas, particularly along the coast with Brazil, was promoted by representatives from those departments, despite objections from other sectors of the opposition. In this case, local needs prevailed over partisan tensions.
The coordinator of the Frente Amplio, Mariano Tucci, confirmed that negotiations are underway with everyone. He asserts that talks are first held with political parties, then with sectors, and finally with each legislator, depending on their territorial interests. This methodology, which might seem pragmatic, reflects a careful reading of the current political reality.
Within the National Party, there are also movements. With a gap of more than 300,000 votes between the 2024 national elections and the 2025 departmental elections, some local leaders are seeking to reposition themselves and build a new pole of power within the party. This internal dispute could be exploited by the government to consolidate alliances on key issues.
The Five-Year Budget looms on the horizon as the next major legislative battle. To move forward, the FA will once again need external support. Talks are already underway, and mayors appear to be playing a central role. Orsi, with his approachable and direct style, seeks to capitalize on this openness.
The strategy is partly reminiscent of José Mujica's logic: build from the ground up, talk to everyone, listen, and negotiate. Without a majority of your own, every vote counts. And in this balancing act, the interior becomes an essential player.
Meanwhile, in Parliament, the opposition is trying to reorganize. Legislators like Juan Martín Rodríguez acknowledge that the ruling party has achieved a "turnaround" since May, finding temporary partners for each project. The agenda, which initially seemed blocked, is now moving more dynamically.
Talk, negotiate, agree. That's the new normal in the Uruguayan Parliament. And Orsi, in his dual institutional and political role, is positioning himself as a key facilitator. The cards are on the table, and the internal affairs are increasingly playing a role in the power play.
