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7.01 sources of
funds
- 7, AC5
- In general the
literature states that the party is supported financially
by party dues, income from party enterprises, e.g.,
newspapers, radio-tv stations and from the national
election budget of the Uruguayan government which
disburses the money on a proportionate basis to the
political parties according to the number of votes the
party received in the last national election. However
there is no indication that party dues are collected on
any systematic basis. Also there is no data concerning
the actual proportion of the financial dues from each of
the three sources.
- 7.02 source of
members
- 5, AC5
- Although often cited as
the party of the farmers, landowners, peasants,
businessmen and upper-class conservatives, the Blancos do
not rely on any one segment of the population as the main
source of its members. Members are drawn from all classes
in society as well as from the urban and rural areas of
the country--nor is party membership dependent upon
association with any other organization there. Also, it
appears in the literature that there are no formal
membership requirements indicated. By this we mean that
any individual may identify himself as a 'Nacional,'
although this in itself may not be enough to participate
in the 'local clubs' which are the grass roots units of
the major political parties--whether participation in the
clubs is dependent upon the fulfilling of some membership
requirements is not known.
- 7.03 sources of
leaders
- 5, AC8
- The sources of leaders
for the party come from the law profession and the ranks
of the news-media with some businessmen also involved.
Another important source of leaders is the families of
politicians who have controlled some of the sub-lemas for
almost 50 years. Although many of the leaders do come
from the urban areas of the country rural interests have
gained some leadership positions in the
party.
- 7.04 relations with
domestic parties
- 6, AC8
- The party is not the
dominant partner in a pattern of alliances with weaker
parties. Rather it is in a pact with the Colorado Party
(the other major party in the country) to prevent any of
the other minor parties from gaining even partial control
of the legislature or the executive branch of the
government. In 1951 the Colorado and Nacional party
leaders concluded a pact which was designed to pave the
way for a constitutional amendment which created the
plural executive. (See comment for Blancos, Party
381.)
- 7.05 relations with
foreign organizations
- 5, AC8
- There is no mention in
the literature that the party is affiliated with any
international organization.
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