Montevideo, Uruguay – Former Uruguayan President José Mujica has publicly endorsed National Party deputy Orestes Fratti as a potential candidate for the position of Minister of Livestock in a future government. Mujica's comments came during a recent radio interview, where he expressed admiration for Fratti and highlighted the importance of the agricultural sector in Uruguay.

Fratti, a three-time elected deputy for Cerro Largo and a recently elected senator, has a long history in agriculture. A veterinarian by profession, he has held various positions in the livestock industry, including the presidency of the National Meat Institute. Mujica praised Fratti's qualifications and experience, emphasizing the need for a minister who understands the challenges and opportunities facing Uruguay's agricultural sector.

"I believe this country, the most livestock-oriented country in the world, although most people don't know it. There's no other country that has three or four cows per inhabitant. And that has almost half of its land for pasture for cows. A country that has 44,000, 45,000 ranchers, half of whom are rather small, breeders. They should be celebrating, because they have one of their own in the ministry," Mujica said on the radio show.

Mujica's endorsement of Fratti highlights the former president's continued influence in Uruguayan politics and his interest in promoting the country's agricultural sector. Fratti's appointment as Minister of Livestock would mark a significant shift for the National Party, as he has been a vocal critic of the party's more conservative wing.

Fratti's political career has been marked by a willingness to work across party lines. Mujica has praised Fratti's ability to bridge the divide between the ruling party and the opposition, describing him as a "Wilsonist, as white as a wild horse's bone."

While it remains unclear whether Fratti will be offered the position of Minister of Livestock, Mujica's endorsement is a significant boost to his political career. It also signals a potential shift in the direction of Uruguayan agricultural policy, with a greater emphasis on collaboration between the government and the private sector.