Political violence marred Mexico’s elections this yr. And in Venezuela’s presidential race, protests accompanied a contested result and widespread allegations of electoral fraud.
However in Uruguay on Sunday, a way more muted presidential election unfolded.
Situated on the southern Atlantic coast, north of Argentina, Uruguay was one in every of a number of Latin American international locations holding high-stakes presidential elections this yr.
And in contrast to a few of its counterparts, critics say Uruguay serves as a mannequin for democratic stability within the area.
Sunday’s election was a run-off, pitting the highest two presidential contenders from the October 27 normal election in opposition to each other.
The early favorite was Yamandu Orsi, the candidate for the left-wing Broad Entrance coalition. Within the October vote, he notched 44 p.c assist — properly in need of the 50 p.c wanted to keep away from a run-off.
Coming in second place on October 27 was Alvaro Delgado of the ruling Nationwide Celebration, a conservative group.
Whereas he solely acquired 27 p.c of the vote within the first spherical, he’s more likely to profit from the 20 p.c of voters who forged their poll for the third-place candidate, fellow conservative Andres Ojeda of the Colorado Celebration.
Each Orsi and Delgado superior to Sunday’s run-off with sturdy assist, making the end result a nail-biter.
Orsi, a 57-year-old historical past trainer, has the assist of former President Jose Mujica, a former leftist insurgent fighter who survived torture below Uruguay’s army dictatorship within the Seventies and ’80s.
Mujica has since grow to be a beloved determine on the left: He was dubbed the “world’s poorest president” throughout his time in workplace, from 2010 to 2015, for his humble life-style.
Orsi’s Broad Entrance coalition was in energy till the 2019 election, which noticed the rise of the conservative Nationwide Celebration. It was the primary conservative victory in nearly 15 years.
However outgoing President Luis Lacalle Pou is prevented by regulation from in search of a second consecutive time period. Operating as an alternative for his social gathering is the 55-year-old Delgado, a former veterinarian.
Each Delgado and Orsi have emphasised strengthening Uruguay’s financial system.
Orsi, who campaigned with the slogan “We all know the right way to obtain”, has emphasised measures to lift wages for low-income employees. Delgado, in the meantime, has centered on streamlining Uruguay’s forms and forging commerce offers with companions like China.
Each males have pledged to respect the outcomes of the election and work collectively, regardless of the end result.
“We should worth what now we have: democratic coexistence,” mentioned the pinnacle of the Broad Entrance coalition, Fernando Pereira.
In the meantime, Ojeda — the third-place candidate knocked out within the first spherical of voting — remarked to native media in regards to the calm accompanying Uruguay’s election.
“If I had introduced a foreigner right here and I didn’t inform him that there was an election, he wouldn’t have seen,” Ojeda mentioned.
