{{family name hatnote|Raffo|Degeronimi|lang=Spanish}} {{short description|Uruguayan economist, businessman and politician}}{{Infobox officeholder | name = Laura Raffo | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1973|09|22}} | birth_name = María Laura Raffo Degeronimi | occupation = Businesswoman<br/>Economist<br/>Politician<br/>Television columnist | birth_place = Montevideo, Uruguay | party = National Party | education = University of the Republic<br/> University of Montevideo | image = Copia de 20240222GL 2192 (1).jpg | parents = Juan Carlos Raffo<br/>Marta Degeronimi | office = President of the Montevideo Departmental Commission of the National Party | term_start = December 14, 2020 | term_end = May 8, 2023 | successor = Pedro Jisdonian | predecessor = Juan Jose Olaizola | spouse = {{unbulleted list|{{marriage|Federico Muttoni|2005|2014|end=divorced}}}} | children = Francisco<br/>Ignacio | image_size = 260px }}
'''María Laura Raffo Degeronimi''' (born 22 September 1973) is a Uruguayan economist, businesswoman, and politician of the National Party. She began her political career in 2020 as the candidate of the Coalición Multicolor for the municipal elections of that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/politica/laura-raffo-sera-candidata-intendencia-montevideo-coalicion.html|title=Laura Raffo será la candidata a la Intendencia de Montevideo por la coalición|website=Diario EL PAIS Uruguay|date=4 February 2020 |language=spanish|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref>
Born in Montevideo, she graduated from the University of the Republic with a degree in economics and earned an MBA from the University of Montevideo.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.voces.com.uy/entrevistas-1/lauraraffoeconomista|title=LAURA RAFFO, ECONOMISTA - Semanario Voces|website=www.voces.com.uy|access-date=2020-02-25|archive-date=2020-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204192336/http://www.voces.com.uy/entrevistas-1/lauraraffoeconomista|url-status=dead}}</ref> She rose to prominence serving as a columnist on economic issues on the ''Telemundo 12'' newscast and various television programs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-18 |title=Laura Raffo presentó 'La economía al alcance de todos' |url=https://www.teledoce.com/telemundo/cultura-y-espectaculos/laura-raffo-presento-su-libro-economia-al-alcance-de-todos/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=Teledoce.com |language=es-UY}}</ref>
== Early life == Raffo was born in Montevideo on 22 September 1973, the daughter of politician and writer Juan Carlos Raffo and Marta Degeronimi.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-27 |title=Laura Raffo, la economista con experiencia en cargos ejecutivos |url=https://www.subrayado.com.uy/laura-raffo-la-economista-experiencia-cargos-ejecutivos-n671830 |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=subrayado.com.uy |language=es-UY}}</ref> She has two siblings, Verónica and Juan Carlos. Raffo is of Italian and Portuguese descent. Portuguese politician Jorge Pinto is her distant cousin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/domingo/hermanos-distintos-exitosos.html|title=Hermanos distintos y exitosos|last=ElPais|website=Diario EL PAIS Uruguay|date=14 June 2015 |language=spanish|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://observador.pt/especiais/a-arvore-genealogica-de-jorge-pinto/|title= O pai e o avô que se enfrentaram em Amarante e a prima que queria ser Presidente do Uruguai: a árvore genealógica de Jorge Pinto|last=Observador|website=Observador|date=25 December 2025 |language=portuguese|access-date=2025-12-25}}</ref>
Raised in the neighborhood of Prado, she attended the Lycée Français of Montevideo.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-11-01 |title=120 años del Liceo Francés |url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/tvshow/sociales/120-anos-del-liceo-frances |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=EL PAIS |language=en}}</ref> In her teens, she won the National Literature Award for poetry.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-03 |title=LAURA RAFFO, ECONOMISTA - Semanario Voces |url=http://semanariovoces.com/8181-2/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203000234/http://semanariovoces.com/8181-2/ |archive-date=2023-02-03 }}</ref> In 1992, she enrolled in the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Administration of the University of the Republic, graduating in 1998 as an economist.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-16 |title=Laura Raffo: Nunca en mi vida fui una paracaidista - Semanario Voces |url=http://semanariovoces.com/laura-raffo-nunca-en-mi-vida-fui-una-paracaidista/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716203550/http://semanariovoces.com/laura-raffo-nunca-en-mi-vida-fui-una-paracaidista/ |archive-date=2023-07-16 }}</ref> She subsequently obtained a master's degree in business administration from the University of Montevideo.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=<!--staff byline; no author given--> |date=2020-02-04 |title=Laura Raffo es candidata a la Intendencia de Montevideo por la coalición multicolor |url=https://970universal.com/2020/02/04/laura-raffo-es-candidata-a-la-intendencia-por-la-coalicion-multicolor/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=970 Universal |language=es}}</ref>
== Career == While she was studying at the university, she got a job position in the newspaper ''El Observador'' to write the economics column.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Redacción |title=Tras la pelea al aire, la historia de la relación entre Laura Raffo y Gabriel Pereyra |url=https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/tras-la-pelea-al-aire-la-historia-de-la-relacion-entre-laura-raffo-y-gabriel-pereyra-2023724142523 |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=El Observador}}</ref> She was later employed by the Uruguayan branch of the ManpowerGroup corporation, as manager of the recruiting area.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Enriquez |first=Ignacio |date=2020-02-05 |title=Laura Raffo, la economista que se define como "liberal y de centro" |url=https://vtv.com.uy/laura-raffo-la-economista-que-se-define-como-liberal-y-de-centro/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=VTV |language=en}}</ref> In 2003 she made her television debut, as a panelist on the Channel 10 debate program ''Zona Urbana''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bardesio |first=Miguel |date=2023-07-15 |title=A 20 años de Zona Urbana, fotos inéditas, en qué otro canal pudo haber salido y cuál era su nombre original |url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/sabado-show/zona-urbana-a-20-anos-del-programa-periodistico-que-cambio-la-television-uruguaya |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=EL PAIS |language=es-UY}}</ref> That year he worked as a columnist on the radio together with the journalist and broadcaster Néber Araujo in FM Setiembre.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-20 |title=Laura Raffo presentó su libro junto con Alexandra Morgan y Ernesto Talvi |url=https://www.teledoce.com/nota/laura-raffo-presento-su-libro-junto-con-alexandra-morgan-y-ernesto-talvi/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Teledoce.com |language=es-UY}}</ref>
From 2004 to 2008 she worked for Microsoft and later began hosting an economics segment on Teledoce's ''Telemundo 12'' newscast, which brought her wide national recognition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=La vida de Laura Raffo, su definición de humanista y el inicio de una carrera política para ayudar al cambio |url=https://espectador.com/abrancancha/charlemos/la-vida-de-laura-raffo-su-definicion-de-humanista-y-el-inicio-de-una-carrera-politica-para-ayudar-al-cambio |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=El Espectador 810 |language=es-UY}}</ref> She served as the executive director of Endeavor Uruguay.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amorín |first=Cecilia |title=Levantar el perfil |url=https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/levantar-el-perfil-20129713230 |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=El Observador}}</ref> From 2013 to 2017, she was a leading economist and image representative of Grupo Sura and was a member of the board of directors of the Banco Santander branch from February 2018 to February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-05|title=Laura Raffo, la economista que se define como "liberal y de centro" {{!}} VTV Noticias|url=https://vtv.com.uy/blog/2020/02/05/laura-raffo-la-economista-que-se-define-como-liberal-y-de-centro/|access-date=2020-08-29|language=es}}</ref>
She worked as a columnist in the television program, ''Código País'', broadcast by Teledoce. In 2016 she published the book ''La Economía al alcance de todos.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Uruguay |first=Endeavor |title=LAURA RAFFO |url=https://www.endeavor.org.uy/?avada_portfolio=suspendisse-pharetra-urna-2-4-4 |access-date=2020-02-25 |website=Endeavor Uruguay |language=es}}</ref> From August 2021 to 2022 she was part of the panel of ''Todas las voces'', a debate program aired on Channel 4.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ElPais |title=Laura Raffo y Francisco Faig, entre los nuevos panelistas de "Todas las voces": conocelos |url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/tvshow/tv/laura-raffo-francisco-faig-nuevos-panelistas-todas-voces-conocelos.html |access-date=2021-09-04 |website=Diario EL PAIS Uruguay |date=12 August 2021 |language=spanish}}</ref>
== Political career ==
=== 2020 campaign for Intendant of Montevideo === In early February 2020, it was confirmed that Raffo would be the candidate for Intendant of Montevideo for the Coalición Multicolor in the 2020 municipal elections.<ref>{{Cite web|last=ElPais|title=Lacalle destrabó la negociación y Laura Raffo le competirá al Frente Amplio en Montevideo|url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/politica/lacalle-destrabo-negociacion-laura-raffo-le-competira-frente-amplio-montevideo.html|access-date=2020-08-29|website=Diario EL PAIS Uruguay|date=5 February 2020 |language=spanish}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Observador|first=El|title=Laura Raffo será la candidata única de la coalición en Montevideo|url=https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/laura-raffo-sera-la-candidata-unica-de-la-coalicion-en-montevideo-202024153649|access-date=2020-08-29|website=El Observador}}</ref> In the following days, she was approved conventions of the National,<ref>{{Cite web|last=ElPais|title=Convención Departamental del Partido Nacional aprobó candidatura de Laura Raffo|url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/politica/convencion-departamental-partido-nacional-aprobo-candidatura-laura-raffo.html|access-date=2020-08-29|website=Diario EL PAIS Uruguay|date=8 February 2020 |language=spanish}}</ref> Colorado,<ref>{{Cite web|last=ElPais|title=Convención Departamental del Partido Colorado aprobó candidatura de Laura Raffo|url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/politica/convencion-departamental-partido-colorado-aprobo-candidatura-laura-raffo.html|access-date=2020-08-29|website=Diario EL PAIS Uruguay|date=6 February 2020 |language=spanish}}</ref> Independent,<ref>{{Cite web|title=El Partido Independiente ratificó a Laura Raffo como candidata|url=https://ecos.la/9/actualidad/2020/02/08/39648/el-partido-independiente-ratifico-a-laura-raffo-como-candidata/|access-date=2020-08-29|website=ecos.la|language=es}}</ref> Open Cabildo<ref>{{Cite news|last=ElPais|title=Cabildo Abierto aprobó la candidatura de Laura Raffo a la IMM y ratificó a su suplente|language=es-UY|work=Diario EL PAIS Uruguay|url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/politica/convencion-departamental-cabildo-abierto-aprobo-candidatura-raffo-imm.html|access-date=2020-08-29}}</ref> and De La Gente parties, members of the electoral coalition. The candidacy was made official on February 11, at the launch, Raffo stated that it is necessary to take care of "the problems of every day of the people".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Observador|first=El|title=Laura Raffo lanzó su candidatura y dijo que está dispuesta a debatir con el FA|url=https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/laura-raffo-lanza-su-candidatura-a-la-intendencia-de-montevideo-202021119502|access-date=2020-08-29|website=El Observador}}</ref>
On July 23, in the presentation of the government plan dedicated to cleaning up the city, the National Representative for Montevideo of the Ecologist Radical Intransigent Party (PERI), César Vega, officially supported Raffo stating that she would be the "person who is going to do things better for Montevideo", and urged PERI voters to vote for her.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Riveiro |first1=Martín |date=2020-07-23|title=El diputado Cesar Vega oficializó su apoyo a la candidatura de Laura Raffo|url=https://970universal.com/2020/07/23/el-diputado-cesar-vega-oficializo-su-apoyo-a-la-candidatura-de-laura-raffo/|access-date=2020-08-29|website=970 Universal|language=es}}</ref>
The closing of the campaign was held on September 24 with an act in Varela Square.<ref>{{Cite web|last=ElPais|title=Raffo cerró su campaña: "Podemos ganar Montevideo, pero hace falta un esfuerzo más"|url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/politica/raffo-cerro-campana-acto-plaza-varela.html|access-date=2021-09-04|website=Diario EL PAIS Uruguay|date=25 September 2020 |language=spanish}}</ref> On election day, Raffo obtained 39.3% of the votes, being the most voted individual candidate, but this percentage was not enough to obtain the government of Montevideo, due to the double simultaneous voting system.<ref>{{Cite web|last=ElPais|title=Elecciones departamentales: ¿Cómo votaron coalición y el FA frente a noviembre y a 2015?|url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/politica/elecciones-departamentales-montevideo-votaron-coalicion-frente-amplio.html|access-date=2021-09-04|website=Diario EL PAIS Uruguay|date=28 September 2020 |language=spanish}}</ref>
On December 14, 2020, she was proclaimed president of the Montevideo Departmental Commission of the National Party, in a ceremony that was attended by Vice President Beatriz Argimón.<ref>{{Cite web|last=diaria|first=la|date=2020-12-14|title=Laura Raffo asumió como presidenta de la comisión departamental de Montevideo del PN|url=https://ladiaria.com.uy/politica/articulo/2020/12/laura-raffo-asumio-como-presidenta-de-la-comision-departamental-de-montevideo-del-pn/|access-date=2021-09-04|website=la diaria|language=es-UY}}</ref> On June 9, 2021, she launched the Centro de Estudios Metropolitano, with the purpose of "promoting a serious and professional debate" about what concerns Montevideo people."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Observador|first=El|title=Raffo lanzó Centro de Estudios Metropolitano, un bastión de su apuesta política en Montevideo|url=https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/raffo-lanzo-centro-de-estudios-metropolitano-un-bastion-de-su-apuesta-politica-en-montevideo-20216816330|access-date=2021-09-04|website=El Observador}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=El PN creó el centro de estudios de Montevideo: llevará el nombre de Andrés Abt|url=https://www.montevideo.com.uy/Noticias/El-PN-creo-el-centro-de-estudios-de-Montevideo-llevara-el-nombre-de-Andres-Abt-uc782994|access-date=2021-09-04|website=Montevideo Portal|language=es}}</ref>
=== 2024 presidential campaign === On May 8, 2023, Raffo announced her resignation from the position of president of the National Party's Montevideo Departmental Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-08 |title=Raffo renunció a la Departamental nacionalista y comunicó que no será candidata en Montevideo |url=https://www.subrayado.com.uy/laura-raffo-renuncio-la-departamental-nacionalista-y-comunico-que-no-sera-candidata-2025-n914675 |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=subrayado.com.uy |language=es-UY}}</ref> She confirmed that she would not run for Intendant of Montevideo in the 2025 municipal elections.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zabala |first=Agustín |date=2023-05-08 |title=Laura Raffo anunció que no será candidata a intendenta en 2025 y confirmó agrupación nacional |url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/politica/raffo-renuncio-a-la-departamental-de-montevideo-del-partido-nacional-y-comunico-que-no-sera-candidata-a-intendenta-en-2025 |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=EL PAIS |language=es-UY}}</ref> The announcement came after months of speculation about her leap into national politics by 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-12 |title=Laura Raffo, posible precandidata a la Presidencia, se reúne con el intendente Moreira y diputado Colman |url=https://ladiaria.com.uy/colonia/articulo/2022/12/laura-raffo-posible-precandidata-a-la-presidencia-se-reune-con-el-intendente-moreira-y-diputado-colman/ |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=la diaria |language=es-UY}}</ref>
On May 15, 2023, the National Alliance faction made official its support for Raffo's candidacy for the 2024 presidential primaries, promoted by Herrerism.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Raffo tendrá el apoyo de Alianza Nacional |url=https://www.ambito.com/uruguay/raffo-tendra-el-apoyo-alianza-nacional-n5722753 |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=www.ambito.com |language=es-UY}}</ref> In June, Rocha's National Movement also announced its support for her candidacy,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Movimiento Nacional de Rocha apoyará a Laura Raffo en las elecciones internas del PN |url=https://www.montevideo.com.uy/Noticias/Movimiento-Nacional-de-Rocha-apoyara-a-Laura-Raffo-en-las-elecciones-internas-del-PN-uc856065 |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=Montevideo Portal |language=es}}</ref> and in July Raffo officially launched her faction within the party, ''Sumar''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BUSQUEDA |first=Semanario |title=Sumar, el nuevo movimiento de Raffo |url=https://www.busqueda.com.uy/Secciones/Sumar-el-nuevo-movimiento-de-Raffo-uc57082 |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=BUSQUEDA |date=15 June 2023 |language=es}}</ref>
In the National Party primary election on June 30, 2024, Raffo obtained 19.2% of the vote, placing second behind Álvaro Delgado Ceretta who was elected the party's candidate for that year's general election.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-02 |title="Un camino que recién empieza": el mensaje de Laura Raffo tras quedar afuera de la fórmula blanca |url=https://www.subrayado.com.uy/un-camino-que-recien-empieza-el-mensaje-laura-raffo-quedar-afuera-la-formula-blanca-n950797 |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=subrayado.com.uy |language=es-UY}}</ref>
== Personal life == In 2005, she married Federico Muttoni. They had twin children born in 2007.<ref>{{Cite tweet |language=es|access-date=2023-07-16|user=lauraraffo |number=306751761471913984 |title=Hace 6 años con @FedericoMuttoni nos convertíamos en padres de estos divinos mellizos que nos alegran tanto la vida!!}}</ref> The couple divorced nine years later.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Alfredo |date=2020-09-18 |title=Laura Raffo: Nunca en mi vida fui una paracaidista |url=http://semanariovoces.com/laura-raffo-nunca-en-mi-vida-fui-una-paracaidista/ |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=Semanario Voces |language=es}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{official website|https://www.lauraraffo.uy/}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raffo, Laura}} Category:Living people Category:University of the Republic (Uruguay) alumni Category:University of Montevideo alumni Category:Uruguayan economists Category:Uruguayan businesspeople Category:Uruguayan politicians Category:1973 births Category:21st-century Uruguayan women politicians Category:21st-century Uruguayan politicians Category:Uruguayan businesswomen Category:National Party (Uruguay) politicians Category:Uruguayan people of Italian descent Category:Uruguayan women economists Category:Politicians from Montevideo Category:Businesspeople from Montevideo