URUGUAY-ELECTION/VOTING Uruguay starts voting in presidential election, leftist favorite to win

Record ID: 351703

  • Title: URUGUAY-ELECTION/VOTING Uruguay starts voting in presidential election, leftist favorite to win
  • Date: 30th November 2014
  • Summary: MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY (NOVEMBER 30, 2014) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF URUGUAY'S PRESIDENT JOSE MUJICA ARRIVING AND CASTING BALLOT PHOTOGRAPHERS MUJICA SHOWING DOCUMENTS MUJICA PLACING HIS BALLOT IN THE BOX MUJICA LEAVING VOTING STATION LEADING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TABARE VAZQUEZ ARRIVING TO VOTE JOURNALISTS VAZQUEZ PRESENTING VOTING DOCUM
  • Embargoed: 15th December 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Uruguay
  • Country: Uruguay
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA657B8FGIKJMC08VWDCDXO272R
  • Story Text: Uruguayans began voting on Sunday (November 30) for a new president, with former leader Tabare Vazquez looking set to win comfortably, securing the ruling leftist coalition a third consecutive term and allowing it to roll out its pioneering marijuana law.
    Outgoing President Jose Mujica cast his ballot as soon as the polls opened.
    Opinion polls give Vazquez, 74, who was president from 2005 to 2010, a 14 percentage point lead over Luis Lacalle Pou, 41, of the centre-right National Party.
    A Vazquez win would see him replace his ally, Jose Mujica, one of Latin America's most popular leaders, and ensure a continuation of the Broad Front's mix of pro-business policies and welfare programs that spurred a decade of strong growth.
    Vazquez's first election win 10 years ago ended two decades of conservative rule that followed a military dictatorship during which Mujica, a former guerrilla, was imprisoned.
    Vazquez closed his first term with approval ratings hitting 70 percent but, like Mujica now, was barred by the constitution from seeking a second consecutive term.
    "There has to be participation by the people, at all times and for any occasion," Vazquez said after casting his ballot.
    If he makes a successful return, Vazquez, a respected oncologist, has promised to see through the legalization of the commercial production and sale of marijuana, although he might make some changes to how it is implemented.
    The law was passed late last year and aims to wrest the drug trade from illegal gangs.
    Lacalle Pou has threatened to repeal much of the reform, which two in three Uruguayans oppose.
    In the first round of the election last month, Vazquez won 47.8 percent of votes while Lacalle Pou won 30.8 percent.
    Lacalle Pou had been expected to do better after promising to rein in a fiscal deficit and inflation, and tapping into the frustrations of more conservative voters upset by Mujica's laws legalizing gay marriage, abortion and pot.
    But Vazquez was boosted by the Broad Front's strong record in power and his experience as president.
    Polling stations close at 7.30 p.m. Exit polls will be released at 8.30 p.m. and partial results are expected by 10 p.m.
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