This article analyzes the principal events of 2021 -the second year of the coalition government led by Luis Lacalle Pou- which was signed by two main issues. In the first place, the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic in which the government manages to deploy a successful vaccination campaign; and, secondly, the initiative of a direct democracy mechanism led by the political and social opposition to derogate 135 articles of the Urgent Consideration Bill (LUC, for its initials in spanish) approved in 2020. It is argued that the combination of both issues put a (transitory) brake to the urgency and deployment of the government’s agenda. To do this, first the economic and social situation is briefly described, and then the political scenario configured between government and opposition. Third, prolonged presidential approval is analyzed from a twofold perspective: the honeymoon effect and the “rally round the flag” effect. Then, one of the central issues of the LUC and of the public agenda is addressed: security and its relationship with government and public opinion. Finally, we analyze the referendum process and its relevance as a new beginning for the coalition government.