Uruguay
Whites and Colorados will commemorate the Battle of Carpintería in Durazno as debate over a common banner remains open
190 years after the clash at the Carpintería stream, the National Party and the Colorado Party will hold a joint commemoration at Parque de las Divisas. At the same time, differences persist within both parties over competing under the Coalición Republicana in 2029.
This Saturday marks 190 years since the Battle of Carpintería, the clash in which whites and colorados first used their colors. According to la diaria, the National Party and the Colorado Party will hold commemorative activities at the Carpintería stream, in Durazno.
In the Chamber of Deputies, Colorado lawmaker Gabriel Gurméndez described the episode as a central moment in the consolidation of the identities of the two founding parties. He recalled that in that confrontation Fructuoso Rivera stood on one side together with the Argentine Juan Lavalle, and on the other Ignacio Oribe and Juan Antonio Lavalleja, former companions in the struggles for independence.
According to la diaria, Gurméndez said the date belongs equally to both sides, because it marked the first time they faced each other identified by their colors. He also argued that political differences already existed before the battle and that what was fixed then was the symbol that distinguished them.
The event at Parque de las Divisas will have the support of the Durazno Intendencia. There will be a roundtable of historians with María Julia Burgueño and Luis Hierro López, as well as a parade and a crossing through the battle site. The closing will include remarks by figures from both parties and a speech by the mayor Felipe Algorta.
The commemoration comes as debate continues over a possible joint run under the Coalición Republicana banner in the 2029 national election. la diaria recalled that at the end of July, National Party senator Javier García came out in favor of running together.
However, within the National Party not everyone is pushing the issue with the same urgency. Lawmaker Juan Martín Rodríguez told la diaria that formally the matter is “in nothing” and said rushing it now could backfire. In his view, the discussion should be introduced in 2028. He also said the tool already exists, since the Coalición Republicana ran in three departments in 2024.
There are also reservations in the Colorado Party. Lawmaker Conrado Rodríguez told la diaria that the issue was not addressed either formally or informally at the party level, beyond specific conversations. He also said he was against competing with a single banner at the national level, arguing that could affect the diversity of profiles, values and histories with which each party seeks to represent more voters.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with assistance from artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not do its own reporting on this event.
