1989 Uruguayan amnesty referendum
On 16 April 1989, Uruguay held a referendum on an amnesty law that would shield military and police members from prosecution for crimes committed during the dictatorship (1973–1985). About 57% voted Yes and 43% voted No. Turnout was high—around 88% of the roughly 2.2 million registered voters participated, with about 1.88 million valid votes.
The amnesty had already been approved in 1986 by the ruling Colorado Party. In 1988, victims asked the Supreme Court to strike it down, but the court rejected the challenge. In 1987, organizers gathered signatures to force a referendum; they initially collected more than the required amount, and after protests another 24,000 were accepted, allowing the vote to proceed.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 17:51 (CET).