URUGUAY-ELECTION/ELECTION EVE Uruguayans come out to streets of Montevideo to support candidates on eve of election

Record ID: 351682

  • Title: URUGUAY-ELECTION/ELECTION EVE Uruguayans come out to streets of Montevideo to support candidates on eve of election
  • Date: 26th October 2014
  • Summary: BROAD FRONT SUPPORTER WEARING MASK OF CURRENT VICE PRESIDENT REPRESENTING BROAD FRONT DANILO ASTORI (SOUNDBITE)(Spanish) BROAD FRONT SUPPORTER WEARING MASK OF URUGUAYAN VICE PRESIDENT DANILO ASTORI, NICOLAS GALVAO, SAYING: "Tomorrow I hope people make the right choice. I think there's a lot at stake. Ten years of good governance is on the line. Ten years of change that we'
  • Embargoed: 10th November 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Uruguay
  • Country: Uruguay
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA6VN5NVX64RWSITCLB29COXXCG
  • Story Text: Uruguayan voters took to the streets of Montevideo Saturday (October 25) on the eve of national elections to support their candidates.
    The South American country will vote Sunday (October 26) on whether to give the ruling coalition another term after a decade of strong growth and leftist reforms, or turn to an opposition candidate who says legalizing marijuana production was a step too far.
    Opinion polls ahead of the presidential election show young centre-rightist Luis Lacalle Pou forcing the governing coalition's Tabare Vazquez, a former president, into a runoff vote in late November.
    Vazquez, 74, brought the leftist Broad Front (Frente Amplio) to power 10 years ago and won praise for his blend of pro-market economic policies and social welfare policies.
    His successor, outgoing President Jose Mujica, continued with the model and his straight-talking, unpretentious style made him one of the small nation's most popular leaders.
    Mujica also legalized abortion and gay marriage, and last year made Uruguay the world's first country to legalize the production, distribution and sale of marijuana.
    Uruguay's constitution bars a president from holding two consecutive terms in office so Vazquez returned to be the Broad Front's candidate. He says his government, if he wins, will remain focused on improving conditions for the most vulnerable in a country of 3.4 million people.
    Broad Front supporters taking to the streets of Montevideo saw Sunday's a vote as a referendum on the decade of leftist rule.
    "Tomorrow I hope people make the right choice. I think there's a lot at stake. Ten years of good governance is on the line. Ten years of change that we've all lived through, whether you have or haven't supported this government," said Nicolas Galvao, who appeared at the rally wearing a mask of Danilo Astori, the sitting vice president of Uruguay.
    The latest opinion polls show Vazquez with the support of 43 percent of voters compared with 31 percent for Lacalle Pou.
    But that would leave Vazquez short of the 50 percent he needs for a first-round victory and, in a runoff, Lacalle Pou could secure the support of right-wing Colorado Party candidate Pedro Bordaberry, who has polled between 14-18 percent support. That would make the runoff vote a tight one.
    In spite of the inevitable jockeying about to take place, Broad Front supporters were embracing a festive spirit on election eve.
    "I feel a lot of happiness, celebration at this party. And as you see, we've come out here to the streets to be share this moment, to talk to each other and trying to truly mark all this as a party," said Miguel Scagliola as he held a mate gourd, as is customary in southern cone countries.
    Lacalle Pou, 41, is the son of former president Luis Lacalle, although he has sought to distance himself from his father's 1990-95 rule, which was stained by botched privatisations and political scandal.
    A keen surfer, father-of-three Lacalle Pou is viewed by supporters as a fresh face for Uruguayan politics. With more socially liberal views than previous National Party candidates, who could appeal to moderate voters on both the left and right.
    He has tapped into the simmering discontent felt by many Uruguayans toward the extent of Mujica's social reforms. Almost two in three opposed the ex-guerrilla's plan for the state to oversee the legal production and commercial distribution of marijuana.
    Lacalle Pou told Reuters on Wednesday he would try to repeal much of the ground-breaking marijuana law passed last December if he is elected. He also said he would reverse Mujica's offer of asylum to six Guantanamo Bay prisoners.
    His campaign has touched a nerve in Uruguay, attracting first time voters to his side.
    "It's my first time voting, even though I began my support (for the National Party) back in 2009 and 2010. And so for me it's very exciting to be out here today," said Isabel Scaltriti, who appeared at the rally in Montevideo.
    Voters also elect lawmakers on Sunday. Neither the Broad Front nor Lacalle Pou's National Party are likely to win a majority in Congress, meaning the next president will face a tougher time than Mujica in passing laws.
    Uruguay's $55 billion economy has expanded an average 5.7 percent annually since 2005. The government forecasts lower growth of 3 percent this year, still outperforming neighbouring Argentina and Brazil.

  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register