Weekly Report - 18 June 2015 (WR-15-24)

President Tabaré Vázquez is taking an entirely different approach to dealing with Uruguay’s most powerful lobby from that pursued by his predecessor José Mujica (2010-2015). While Mujica did not hesitate to cross swords with the umbrella trade union, Plenario Intersindical de Trabajadores-Convención Nacional de Trabajadores (PIT-CNT), a hectoring ally of the ruling left-wing Frente Amplio (FA) coalition, Vázquez, as with his government’s foreign policy, has opted for a more diplomatic course. On 15 June Vázquez became the first sitting head of state in Uruguay’s history to attend the PIT-CNT’s annual congress, four days after the union staged a four-hour general strike to mark the end of his first 100 days in office.