# Luis Alberto Lacalle

_36th President of Uruguay_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/luis-alberto-lacalle
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Luis Alberto Lacalle de Herrera (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈlwis alˈβeɾto laˈkaʝe ðe eˈreɾa]; Lacalle locally [laˈkaʒe] or [laˈkaʃe]; born 13 July 1941) is a Uruguayan politician and lawyer who served as the 36th president of Uruguay from 1990 to 1995. A member of the National Party, he previously served as National Representative from 1972 to 1973, and as Senator of the Republic from 1985 to 1990.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 13 July 1941 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q336253#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Montevideo ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q336253#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Uruguay; Spain ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q336253#P27))
- **Occupation:** lawyer; politician; journalist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q336253#P106))
- **Political party:** National Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q336253#P102))
- **Education:** University of the Republic ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q336253#P69))
- **Spouse:** María Julia Pou Brito del Pino ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q336253#P26))
- **Positions held:** President of Uruguay (1 March 1990 – 1 March 1995) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q336253#P39))
- **Awards:** Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic‎; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George; Grand Collar of the Order of the Andes' Condor; Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross; honorary doctor of the University of Madrid Complutense; Gold medal of Galicia; honorary doctor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland; Medal of Military Merit; Order of the Liberator General San Martín; National Order of Merit; Order of Merit; honorary doctor of Tel Aviv University ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q336253#P166))

## About

Lacalle was born and raised in Montevideo. He is the grandson of Luis Alberto de Herrera who led the National Party and founded one of its most prominent sectors. He attended the Jesuit Colegio Seminario and graduated from the University of the Republic in 1964 with a law degree. In his youth he worked as a journalist in some media outlets. From 1972 to 1973 he served as National Representative for the Montevideo Department, but lost his seat after the dissolution of parliament with the coup d'état carried out by President Juan María Bordaberry.

Lacalle was elected president in the 1989 election, which marked only the third time since 1860 that his party had won a national election. It had last led the government when it formed a majority on the National Council of Government from 1959 to 1967, and last held the presidency via Bernardo Prudencio Berro from 1860 to 1865. His presidency was characterized by a liberal economic policy in line with the Washington Consensus. He carried out a fiscal adjustment and a reform to state-owned companies to deregulate them. This earned him opposition from the left and the union movement. In foreign policy, the Lacalle government signed the Treaty of Asunción that established the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR).

After leaving office in 1995, Lacalle continued in active politics. In 1999 he ran for president again, finishing in third place. In 2004 he ran in the National Party presidential primaries, but was defeated by Jorge…

## Questions

**When was Luis Alberto Lacalle born?**  
Luis Alberto Lacalle was born on 13 July 1941 in Montevideo.

**What positions has Luis Alberto Lacalle held?**  
Positions held by Luis Alberto Lacalle include: President of Uruguay (1990–1995).

**Where did Luis Alberto Lacalle study?**  
Luis Alberto Lacalle was educated at University of the Republic.

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- [Tabaré Vázquez](https://diginpl.com/people/tabare-vazquez)
- [José Mujica](https://diginpl.com/people/jose-mujica)
- [Jorge Batlle](https://diginpl.com/people/jorge-batlle)
- [Carlos Anaya](https://diginpl.com/people/carlos-anaya)
- [Martín Echegoyen](https://diginpl.com/people/martin-echegoyen)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Luis Alberto Lacalle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Alberto_Lacalle) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q336253](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q336253) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Luisalbertolacalle2.jpg (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Luisalbertolacalle2.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Luis Alberto Lacalle, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Luisalbertolacalle2.jpg, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Luis Alberto Lacalle". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/luis-alberto-lacalle. Retrieved 6 November 2026.