Senator Nicolás Viera proposes regionalizing Uruguay

Uruguayan Senator Nicolás Viera has proposed a major restructuring of the country's territorial administration. The Frente Amplio legislator suggested regionalizing Uruguay into eight or nine zones, which would involve eliminating the current nineteen departments, their respective intendancies, and departmental councils.

Viera stated that the proposal is a personal initiative rather than an official position of the Frente Amplio. He argued that the current division is illogical for a country that can be crossed in six hours and that the reform aims to optimize state resources and improve public services. The proposed regions would be organized based on productive criteria, such as rice, citrus, cheese, or dairy zones.

Under this model, each new region would have its own executive and legislative powers, including an intendancy and a departmental council. Additionally, Viera suggested reviewing the number of council members (ediles) and reconsidering their honorary status, proposing that elected officials receive at least some reimbursement for expenses.