URUGUAY-ELECTION/FIRST ROUND RESULTS Uruguay's presidential election heads to runoff

Record ID: 351688

  • Title: URUGUAY-ELECTION/FIRST ROUND RESULTS Uruguay's presidential election heads to runoff
  • Date: 27th October 2014
  • Summary: MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY (OCTOBER 26, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WITH BROAD FRONT FLAGS CELEBRATING IN PRINCIPAL AVENUE
  • Embargoed: 11th November 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Uruguay
  • Country: Uruguay
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7UEYGYXJMEUIUSQOW8027N2R6
  • Story Text: Leftist ruling coalition candidate Tabare Vazquez led Uruguay's presidential election on Sunday (October 26) but he fell short of a first-round victory and will go to a runoff vote next month against leading opposition candidate Luis Lacalle Pou, according to exit polls and the candidate themselves.
    Vazquez arrived to the Broad Front headquarters smiling as cheers broke out in celebration of his first round lead. He predicted that his party had won a majority in Congress although analysts had not predicted either his nor the National Party to win a majority in Congress.
    "In agreement with all the information we have and the various projections - although we would prefer to wait until tomorrow to have the official results - we are in conditions to say that practically we have our foot in the door for having the parliamentary majority," said the 74-year old oncologist.
    If the next president does not carry Congress, he will face a tougher time than President Jose Mujica in passing laws.
    Exit polls showed Vazquez winning 44-47 percent of the presidential vote compared with 31-33 percent for Lacalle Pou of the conservative National Party.
    "In this second stage of the electoral process, we aren't going to run to any side (in reference to forming an alliance). The ideas, the projects, the history and the results, we must promote them, not cover them up or camouflage them," said Vazquez while addressing a exhilarated crowd in downtown Montevideo
    Throngs of elated Broad Front supporters took to capital's main avenue to revel in the coalition´s first round lead with song and dance.
    Supporter Nicolas Madero was optimistic about next month´s runoff.
    "The Broad Front continues having the majority, we are moving forward. The left continues betting on and changing the country for five years and the youth should be excited and celebrate. Onwards!" he said.
    Sporting her party's colours, Maria Esther Serra also looked forward to a runoff victory on November 30 while taking the time to congratulate Dilma Rousseff win in Brazil.
    "On the 30th, we will win with much strength. And a big hug for Dilma!" said Serra.
    Vazquez first brought the Broad Front to power in 2005. His blend of pro-market economic policies and social welfare measures that slashed poverty rates won broad support but he was constitutionally barred from a second consecutive term and handed over the reins to Mujica in 2010.
    Leading the opposition. 41-year-old Lacalle Pou emerged as a strong candidate after an unexpected victory in his party's primaries followed by a slick campaign aimed at giving a fresh image to Uruguay´s traditional right-wing party.
    Pedro Bordaberry, the son of a former dictator and leader of the conservative Colorado Party, was expected to win about 14 percent. He quickly appeared beside Lacalle Pou to endorse the National Party candidate, meaning the runoff election on November 30 could be a close one.
    Lacalle Pou welcomed Bordaberry and running-mate German Coutinho to the runoff battle.
    "In life you must recognize things at a certain point in time. As such, here we are with Pedro Bordaberry and German Coutinho and all the people who came with the Colorado Party," said Lacalle Pou.
    Bordaberry's father, the late Uruguayan dictator Juan Maria Bordaberry, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for human rights abuses. He died under house arrest in 2011 at age 83.
    Lacalle Pou told the crowd that the alliance with Bordaberry's Colorado party wasn't planned and that he hoped he would be able to outline the conservative perspective with the ruling leftist Broad Front.
    "I, in this sui generis meeting - and truly this meeting wasn't planned - I ask you Pedro to accompany me to new heights. [PEOPLE APPLAUDING] Surely in this political discourse and in my civilized discussion with Dr. Tabare Vazquez I hope that this creates another space because it´s going to be better for the country. But for this we need to talk and discuss and to outline our differences. Today I want to say something that guides me every day, it's the engine I have to be involved in this most beautiful activity in the world, that has enabled me to be a better person, more generous, to love the people in my country more and to help them be better. You know that in political activities there are no big causes and small causes, there are only just causes or the other kinds (unjust causes). And if the cause is just the National party is together with justice," said Lacalle Pou.
    Official election results are expected to be announced on Monday (October 27).

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