- Title: URUGUAY: NEW DEFENCE AND INTERIOR MINISTERS JOIN PRESIDENT BORDABERRY'S CABINET.
- Date: 15th February 1973
- Summary: 1. SV President Bordaberry & Dr. Ravenna take seats 0.10 2. SV President Bordaberry signs paper, then book 0.29 3. SV Colonel Bolentini signs book followed by Dr. Ravenna 0.37 4. SCU President Bordaberry 0.38 5. SV Dr. Ravenna congratulated 0.43 6. SCU Cameraman & assistant 0.45 7. SCU Bolentini & Dr. Ravenna congratulated
- Embargoed: 2nd March 1973 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY
- Country: Uruguay
- Reuters ID: LVA92LP2AO59W775FFZPOK5MRABX
- Story Text: Uruguayan President Juan Bordaberry faced his first test of strength since the military established itself as part of the Government when he sought congressional permission for an extension of emergency powers on Thursday (15 February).
The emergency powers were introduced last April at the start of a drive to oust the Tupamaros Left-wing urban guerrillas.
Result of the President's request for an extension depended on the balance of forces after the five-day military revolt which left President Bordaberry in office, but gave the armed forces political power.
President Bordaberry on Tuesday agreed to set up a National Security Council, giving the military a say in the appointment of the key Interior and Defence portfolios as part of conditions to settle the military revolt.
The President later announced he was switching the outgoing Interior Minister, Doctor Walter Ravenna, to the Defence Ministry, and appointing Army Colonel Nestor Bolentini to the Interior portfolio.
The crisis began a week ago when the Army and Air Force demanded the dismissal of newly-appointed Defence Minister General Antonio Francese. The mass resignation of the Cabinet followed, but the President has since rejected the resignations of nine of the ten ministers.
SYNOPSIS: Uruguay's President Juan Bordaberry and his new Minister of Defence, Doctor Walter Ravenna, take their seats at the formal ceremony which completes the appointment of Doctor Ravenna to his new post. He was previously Minister of the Interior in the Cabinet that held office until last week, when a military revolt threatened. The crisis arose when the Army and Air Force demanded the dismissal of the then newly-appointed Defence Minister General Antonio Francese.
In the switch-over, Army man Colonel Nestor Bolentini was appointed to Doctor Ravenna's old Interior portfolio.
President Bordaberry last Tuesday agreed to set up a National Security Council which would given the military a say in the appointment of both these key posts as part of conditions to settle the military revolt.
The President's first test of strength in Congress came when he asked for an extension of the emergency powers that have been in force since last April.
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