| Post: | President |
| Body: | the Oriental Republic of Uruguay |
| Insignia: | Coat of arms of Uruguay.svg |
| Insigniasize: | 95px |
| Insigniacaption: | Uruguayan coat of arms |
| Termlength: | Five years, renewable non-consecutively |
| Constituting Instrument: | Constitution of Uruguay |
| Appointer: | Popular Vote Election |
| Flagborder: | yes |
| Incumbent: | Luis Lacalle Pou |
| Style: | Mr. President President of the Republic |
| Status: | Head of state Head of government |
| Residence: | Residencia de Suárez |
| Incumbentsince: | 1 March 2020 |
| Salary: | $U403,242/US$ 10,339 per month[1] |
| Formation: | 6 November 1830 |
| Deputy: | Vice President of Uruguay |
| Inaugural: | Fructuoso Rivera |
| Website: | presidencia.gub.uy |
| Seat: | Executive Tower, Montevideo |
The president of Uruguay (Spanish; Castilian: presidente del Uruguay), officially known as the president of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (Spanish; Castilian: presidente de la República Oriental del Uruguay), is the head of state and head of government of Uruguay. The president presides over the Council of Ministers, directing the executive branch of the national government, and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Uruguay.[2]
The rights and powers of the presidency are determined in the Constitution of the Republic. Along with the Secretariat of the Presidency, the Council of Ministers and the director of the Office of Planning and Budget, the President is part of the executive branch. In case of absence, their office is exercised by the vice president. In turn, the president of the republic is the commander in chief of the Armed Forces.
Since 1990, the president's term has begun and ended on 1 March. This same date for ending the presidency also happened during the National Council of Government (1952–1967) and it has been not unusual since 1839. The current president since 1 March 2020 is Luis Lacalle Pou, who is the 42nd president of Uruguay—and also the child of the 36th president, Luis Alberto Lacalle.
The Constitution amendment establishes the requirements for becoming president. Article 151 establishes that the president must be a natural-born citizen of the country, or have been born to an Uruguayan citizen if born abroad. The president must also be at least 35 years old and be registered in the National Civic Registry.[3]
According to the current Constitution Constitution of Uruguay of 1967 or Constitution of Uruguay of 1997,[4] the president is elected by direct popular vote for a term of five years. A person may be reelected to the presidency any number of times, but is ineligible for immediate reelection.[5] The president and vice president run on a single ticket submitted by their party. In case no candidate obtains an absolute majority of votes (50%+1), a runoff is held between the top two candidates. In this case, the candidate who obtains a plurality in the runoff wins the election.
According to Article 168 of the Constitution, the president, acting with the respective minister or ministers, or the Council of Ministers, includes, is assigned:
See main article: Uruguayan presidential line of succession. Article 153 of the Constitution establishes that in the event of absence, resignation, cessation, or death of the President and Vice President, the Presidency of the Republic shall be assumed by the first titular Senator of the list most voted for of the political party by which they were elected.
The Suárez Residence in Montevideo is the official residence of the president. The site was acquired by Adelina Lerena de Fein at auction, and the construction of a three-storey house by the young architect Juan María Aubriot, was ordered by Fein Lerena family. In 1925, the young Luis Batlle Berres and Matilde Ibáñez Tálice met while walking in front of this property. Soon after they were married. In 1947, Luis Batlle Berres was already head of state, and at the suggestion of his spouse they chose this mansion as their official residence.[6]
The Anchorena Presidential Estate is the president's country residence. Located in the Colonia Department, 208 kilometers from Montevideo, is the result of the legacy of the aristocrat Aarón de Anchorena who gave about 1,369 hectares of his estate to the Uruguayan State. The mansion combines the Norman and Tudor styles.[7]
The president also has the use of a mansion in Punta del Este, which is called "Woodland’s," and serves as a vacation residence. It was donated to the Uruguayan State by the Argentine businessman Mauricio Litman.[8]