Lacalle, Luis Alberto (1941– )

Uruguayan politician and president 1989–94. His period of office promoted the continuation of democratic political and human rights practices that his predecessor Jose Mariá Sanguinetti had initiated, after over a decade of military dictatorship (1971–84). Huge foreign debts, however, were a major constraint to the success of Lacalle's administration.

Lacalle, a member of the Herrista faction of the conservative Blanco party, became president with a relatively peaceful transition of power from the former Colorado-aligned administration of Sanguinetti. His election marked a 23-year period since the last Blanco candidate gained office.