Montevideo, Uruguay: Left-wing politician Yamandu Orsi has been elected president of Uruguay, according to official results released Sunday, signalling a shift away from five years of conservative leadership.
The closely contested second-round election saw Orsi, representing the Frente Amplio (Broad Front) alliance, narrowly defeat Alvaro Delgado of the National Party, backed by outgoing President Luis Lacalle Pou’s centre-right Republican Coalition.
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Orsi promised in a victory speech on Sunday evening to be a president "who calls again and again for national dialogue to find the best solutions."
Delgado meanwhile conceded defeat, saying he was sending "a big hug and a greeting to Yamandu Orsi."
Despite the change in leadership, analysts do not expect a massive economic shift, as Orsi promised a "change that will not be radical." Both candidates had vowed to tackle crime linked to drug trafficking and foster economic recovery after the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and a severe drought.
With 94.4 percent of votes counted, Orsi secured 1,123,420 votes, ahead of Delgado’s 1,042,001, according to the Electoral Court. The announcement of Orsi's lead sparked celebrations in Montevideo, a stronghold of his political alliance.
Orsi, who had received 43.9 percent of the vote in the first round on October 27, benefitted from the support of former president José "Pepe" Mujica, a beloved figure known as "the world's poorest president" for his modest lifestyle.
Orsi’s win represents a leftward shift for Uruguay, which has seen five years of centre-right governance. His victory restores the Frente Amplio coalition to power after it was ousted in 2020 amid concerns over rising crime and a surge in drug trafficking.
Although Orsi will govern with a majority in the Senate following October’s legislative elections, his Frente Amplio coalition remains in the minority in the Chamber of Representatives.
A 72-year-old retiree who voted, Juan Antonio Stivan, said he just wanted the next government to guarantee "safety -- to be able to go out in the street with peace of mind, as an old person, as a young person, as a child."
Another voter, Aldo Soroara, a 60-year-old winegrower, said he expected whoever is elected as president to do "the best he can for the people," adding: "You can't ask for much more in these difficult times."
Uruguay’s shift comes at a time when crime remains a major concern for voters. The country has long been recognized for its political stability and progressive social policies, including legalizing abortion, same-sex marriage, and recreational cannabis use.
Former president Mujica, who is battling cancer and had to use a cane to walk into his polling station to vote, said Sunday: "Personally, I have nothing more to look forward to. My closest future is the cemetery, for reasons of age... But I am interested in the fate of you, the young people who, when they are my age, will live in a very different world."
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Published: 25 Nov 2024, 08:11 am IST
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