Luis Batlle Berres

Born in 1897, Luis Batlle Berres was the nephew of the renowned leader of the Colorado Party, Jose Batlle y Ordonez, even growing up with him as he was left an orphan in 1908. He first became a deputy in 1923, and joined his brothers and sisters in the popular revolution against Gabriel Terra's coup attempt in 1933, and was focal to rally people around the figure of Alfeo Brum in the elections of 1938. He was one of the main supporters, alongside Alfeo Brum and Lorenzo Batlle Pacheco, to participate in the Second World war.

Though his rivalry with Batlle's sons was fierce, he stood out on top as the undisputed leader of Batllism during the elections of 1946. His position as the president wasn't entirely secure, after all, he came close to losing in 1958 to the Liga de Accion Federal Ruralista of Benito Nardone. These elections culminated in the victory for the Colorados, after which Battle hugged Nardone, as a display of sportsmanship and patriotism. His cabinet was carefully selected to deal with both Colorado's inner workings and the country's future challenges. For it, he picked his friend and colleague for years, Emilio Frugoni, as his vice president. He had known Frugoni for a while, meeting him for the first time during the revolution of 1933, and slowly bringing Frugoni to the Colorados. Frugoni would recommend Rodney Arismendi, general secretary of the Uruguayan Communist Party, as a member of the cabinet. Knowing his participation in the '33 revolution and his more pragmatic approach to politics, he was fine with having him on. To appease Lorenzo and Ceaser Batlle, Amilcar Vasconcellos was selected as the minister of Economy, and for the youth, the war veteran and acclaimed youth leader, Zelmar Michelini, was selected as minister of Foreign Relations.

Luis Batlle Berres is many things. But amongst all, he is the face of the Colorado Party.