Valeria Ripoll Biography: Shirley Valeria Ripoll Fraga born October 13, 1982 is a Uruguayan trade unionist, civil servant, television personality, and politician affiliated with the National Party. On June 30, 2024, she was announced as Álvaro Delgado Ceretta’s running mate for the 2024 general election.
Valeria Ripoll Biography
Ripoll held several union leadership positions and gained broader visibility after becoming ADEOM’s general secretary in 2017. Known for her outspoken criticism of Broad Front administrations, particularly those led by Daniel Martínez and Carolina Cosse, her group won successive union elections in 2019 and 2021. She stepped away from union activity in 2023, having also served as president of the National Federation of Municipal Employees and a member of the PIT–CNT executive.
Shirley Valeria Ripoll Fraga is a Uruguayan trade unionist, civil servant, television personality and politician of the National Party. From 2017 to 2023 she served as general secretary of the Asociación de Empleados y Obreros Municipales.
Valeria Ripoll Quick Info
Born: 13 October 1982 (age 42 years), Montevideo, Uruguay
Party: National Party
Previous campaign: 2024 Uruguay Senate election
Nationality: Uruguayan
Early Life and Career
Born in Montevideo on October 13, 1982, Ripoll is the daughter of Shirley Fraga, an ANCAP employee, and Néstor Ripoll, a non-commissioned officer in the National Navy. She is the eldest of two daughters in a Catholic family and was raised in the Brazo Oriental neighborhood of Montevideo. She attended Colegio Sagrado Corazón, run by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.
Education & Qualifications
As a teenager, Ripoll contributed to her household by studying piano and music theory and working as a kindergarten music teacher. She also held jobs as a manager at a McDonald’s restaurant and as a clerk at the National Navy headquarters, eventually attaining the rank of seaman. After completing high school, she began studying psychology at the University of the Republic, though she did not complete the program. She later pursued training to become an accounting administrative assistant.
Political Career
Although she came from a right-leaning family, Shirley Ripoll joined the Communist Party of Uruguay in 2010, inspired by a colleague during her early involvement in union activism. However, in 2017, she chose to leave the party, citing her disagreement with its lenient stance toward Daniel Martínez’s administration as Intendant of Montevideo—a government she openly criticized. According to Ripoll, she was asked to tone down her criticism due to Martínez’s expected candidacy for the Broad Front in the 2019 presidential election.
After refusing to comply and formally disaffiliating from the party, she reported incidents of vandalism at her home, which escalated to the point where she required police protection. In mid-August 2023, Ripoll officially stepped away from union activities and transitioned into formal politics, joining the center-right National Party. She publicly endorsed Álvaro Delgado Ceretta for the presidency and began working as an advisor on commission in the Chamber of Representatives, specifically in the seat of Martín Lema, then held by his first substitute.
Personal Life
Shirley Ripoll is a mother of three—two daughters and a son. Following her son’s autism diagnosis, she became actively involved in advocacy efforts, supporting the Fundación Abrazo Azul, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about autism.
Valeria Ripoll Net Worth 2025
As of early 2025, Valeria Ripoll, a prominent Uruguayan trade unionist and politician affiliated with the National Party, reported a negative net worth of approximately 362,000 Uruguayan pesos (around USD 8,700). This financial position stems from declared assets totaling 339,608 pesos, which include a deposit and two vehicles, offset by liabilities amounting to 701,626 pesos, comprising bank debts, loans, and a credit card balance . Despite her recent candidacy for the vice presidency in the 2024 general elections, Ripoll’s financial disclosures reflect a net debt situation. Currently, she serves as an assistant in Senator Nicolás Olivera’s parliamentary office, a role she is expected to fulfill until July 2025 .
FAQs
What was Shirley Ripoll’s role in the union movement?
Shirley Ripoll became widely known for her leadership within ADEOM, the Montevideo municipal workers’ union. As general secretary from 2017, she was a vocal critic of the Broad Front’s local administrations and played a key role in two major union election victories.
Did Shirley Ripoll ever run for office before 2024?
Before being selected as Álvaro Delgado’s running mate in 2024, Shirley Ripoll had not run for elect office. Her political career began only in 2023 after leaving union activism and joining the National Party.
Why did Shirley Ripoll leave the Communist Party?
Ripoll left the Communist Party in 2017, citing disagreements over the party’s mild stance toward the Montevideo administration led by Daniel Martínez. She claimed she was aske to tone down her criticisms, and after refusing, experience harassment, including vandalism at her home.
What government positions has Shirley Ripoll held?
Aside from union leadership, Ripoll worked in various municipal roles, including at the Montevideo Planetarium, Botanical Garden, and Philharmonic Orchestra. She later served as an advisor in the Chamber of Representatives under National Party lawmaker Martín Lema.
How did Shirley Ripoll transition from unionist to politician?
After years in union leadership, Ripoll announced in mid-2023 that she was stepping away from activism to enter politics. She joined the National Party and quickly rose through the ranks, ultimately becoming a prominent supporter of Álvaro Delgado.
What is D Centro and why did Shirley Ripoll join it?
D Centro is a centrist faction within Uruguay’s National Party. Ripoll joined the group in early 2024, aligning herself with moderate leaders like Beatriz Argimón and Pablo Abdala, reflecting her shift toward more centrist political positions.
