Alberto Abdala

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Alberto Abdala (1920-1986) Uruguayan politician, painter and Vice-President from 1967 to 1972

Alberto Abdala was born in 1920, being of Syrian descent. He was a member of the Colorado Party. In 1966, the "Batllismo" faction of the Colorado Party didn't have a natural leader to run for the presidential elections of November of that year, after the death in 1964 of the faction's leader, former President Luis Batlle Berres. Some members of the faction insisted that Abdala should be the presidential candidate representing this sector, including Batlle Berres´ son, Jorge Batlle. Ultimately, Abdala refused to run and future President Jorge Batlle was finally selected.

After the death of President Óscar Diego Gestido, and the succession to the presidency of Vice President Jorge Pacheco Areco, Alberto Abdala, being the first senator on "Unidad y Reforma" Senate list (the most voted Senate list within the Colorado Party), became Vice President. He diverged from many political decisions taken by the Pacheco administration. He considered a run for the Presidency in the 1971 elections, but in the end desisted, not wanting to split Unidad y Reforma, and supported a new bid for the presidency by Jorge Batlle.

Alberto Abdala died in Montevideo in 1986.