Open Cabildo

Open Cabildo (Cabildo Abierto, CA) is a relatively new Uruguayan party that emerged in 2019 and quickly became a significant force on the right, built around nationalism, order, and social conservatism.

History and ideology

Cabildo Abierto was founded in 2019 and entered Uruguayan politics as a break from the older party system, especially appealing to voters dissatisfied with crime, economic insecurity, and the traditional political elite. Its most visible leader, Guido Manini Ríos, is a retired army general and former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. His entry into politics gave the party immediate visibility, but also tied it to controversies surrounding civil-military relations and Uruguay’s unresolved debates about the dictatorship period.

In the 2019 general election, Cabildo Abierto performed strongly for a new party, winning 4 Senate seats and 3 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, and becoming an important partner in the coalition that brought Luis Lacalle Pou to the presidency. That rapid breakthrough made it one of the most important newcomers in modern Uruguayan party politics.

Ideologically, the party is usually placed on the right or centre-right to right spectrum, though its discourse often blends conservative, nationalist, and statist elements rather than fitting neatly into classic liberal-conservative labels. Its main pillars include:

• National-popular conservatism, with emphasis on nation, sovereignty, tradition, and order
• Law-and-order politics, especially harsher responses to crime and public insecurity
• Social conservatism, with resistance to some progressive cultural changes
• State interventionism in strategic areas, especially when framed as protecting national interests or ordinary citizens
• Criticism of “party cartel” politics, presenting itself as an outsider force against established elites

Cabildo Abierto’s style is often described as personalist and discursive-populist, with strong dependence on Manini Ríos’s leadership. It differs from classical economic liberalism because it has often supported protectionist or interventionist positions, while also advocating stricter security policies and traditional values.

Objective achievements and contributions

Cabildo Abierto’s main objective contribution to Uruguayan politics has been its role in reshaping coalition politics after 2019. As a relatively small party, it became a decisive ally in the Multicolor coalition governing alongside the National Party, Colorado Party, Independent Party, and other partners. This gave it leverage over key policy debates and forced security, defence, and social issues higher onto the national agenda.

Key facts and achievements include:

• Rapid electoral consolidation in 2019: it became the most successful new party debut in Uruguay in decades, proving that a substantial electorate existed for nationalist-conservative alternatives.
• Coalition participation in government: its parliamentary presence helped sustain the governing coalition’s majority dynamics in the early years of the Lacalle Pou administration.
• Agenda-setting on public security: CA strongly pushed the political system toward tougher crime policies, reflecting a widely felt public concern and influencing national debate.
• Defense and institutional discussions: because of Manini Ríos’s military background, the party gave greater visibility to defence policy and civil-military questions, areas that had been relatively marginal in day-to-day politics.
• Representation of disaffected voters: it captured voters who felt underrepresented by the traditional Colorado/National divide and by the left-wing Frente Amplio, thereby expanding the range of parliamentary representation.
• Support for constitutional and legal debates on security and governance: the party took part in discussions around reforms aimed at reinforcing authority, internal order, and state capacity.

At the same time, an objective profile must note that Cabildo Abierto has also been controversial. Critics have accused it of reopening sensitive historical debates about authoritarianism and of using polarizing rhetoric. These controversies are part of its political impact, even if they are not “achievements” in a normative sense.

Outlook

In the short and medium term, Cabildo Abierto’s trajectory will likely depend on three factors: leadership durability, coalition discipline, and its ability to broaden beyond protest politics. Its core electorate tends to be sensitive to insecurity, anti-elite sentiment, and national identity themes, so the party may remain relevant as long as those issues stay high on the public agenda.

However, the party faces structural challenges. Its dependence on Guido Manini Ríos makes succession difficult, and its identity is still closely associated with a single figure. If its leadership is weakened or its internal cohesion erodes, the party could struggle to preserve its original support base. It also faces a strategic dilemma: as part of a governing coalition, it must balance its outsider image with the responsibilities of government, which can dilute its protest appeal.

Electorally, Cabildo Abierto’s best prospects are likely in constituencies that value security, nationalism, and socially conservative positions. But Uruguay’s party system remains relatively stable and institutionalized, which means that long-term survival will depend on whether CA can become a durable party organization rather than a temporary vehicle for discontent.

If it remains relevant, Cabildo Abierto will probably continue to occupy a space on the right with nationalist and conservative traits, influencing debate more through agenda pressure and coalition bargaining than through dominance in government.

Frequently asked questions

Is Open Cabildo left-wing or right-wing? Open Cabildo is generally considered right-wing, though it combines right-wing nationalism with some interventionist and anti-establishment positions.

What ideology does Open Cabildo have? Its ideology is best described as national-popular conservatism, with nationalist, traditionalist, law-and-order, and socially conservative elements.

What does Open Cabildo stand for? It stands for national sovereignty, public security, traditional values, stronger authority, and criticism of the political establishment.

Who founded Open Cabildo? The party was founded around Guido Manini Ríos, its main leader and public face, along with a broader network of supporters who launched it in 2019.

How many seats did Open Cabildo win in 2019? In the 2019 election, it won 4 seats in the Senate and 3 in the Chamber of Deputies.

Is Open Cabildo part of a governing coalition? Yes. Since 2020, it has been part of the multicolour governing coalition that supported President Luis Lacalle Pou.