The leftists have again regained power in Uruguay after the victory of Jose Mujica’s candidate Yamandu Orsi in the presidential elections.

Yamandu Orsi was elected President of Uruguay in the second round held this Sunday. candidates for wide front (FA), a coalition that brings together the main left-wing and progressive parties in the country, managed to win against the official candidate Alvaro DelgadoOf the White Party. His victory confirmed the good results obtained in the first round, securing a majority in the Senate and two deputies in the Chamber of Deputies.

“This is a night of great thanksgiving,” Orsi said, speaking in front of many people gathered in the Rambla Costanera montevideo“With many thanks to those who made an example of political extremism, let us know that 40 years ago we achieved such a long period of uninterrupted democracy as we had never done before (…) Freedom, equality, solidarity and respect“, he said, celebrating the election with high participation, with 2,231,065 votes cast on the register of 2,727,120.

The campaign has been marked by respect between the parties, which is increasingly unusual on the continent.

After the vice president-elect’s speech, Orsi said, carolina coseMayor of Montevideo from 2020 to this year. The next president also sent a message to those who did not vote for him: “There is another part of our people who, like us not long ago, has a different feeling today. These people also need to help us build a better country. “They will too.” “We need them.”

Orsi’s words were framed in the tone of a campaign marked by respect between parties, which was increasingly unusual in some elections on the continent. Current President’s Quick Reactions louis lacalle pauAlso the defeated candidate gave evidence of that atmosphere: “I want to give a big hug and congratulations to Yamandu Orsi and Frente Amplio, along with this entire coalition from here,” Delgado said shortly after the election, facing certain defeat. Said. Closed.

reasons for victory

“It is a victory of an insurgent people, when we thought it was very difficult because they beat us three to one ad, not a little ad, but three to one, yet Frente Amplio has the most strength in votes, it has the Senate. There is a majority, 48 deputies, and while they said things were very similar, there is clearly a big difference.” Fernando PereiraFA President, publicWhen the result became known, which showed a very different result than that anticipated by most of the polls, ultimately with about four points, i.e. 70,000 votesIn favor of the progressive candidate.

“It is the merit of the thousands of men and women who worked in every sector, every locality, every city, who gave us accommodation so that FA tours were more affordable. Colleagues’ houses, sometimes children sleeping in their parents’ beds. were next to their parents so that we could get housing,” Perera said in reference to the FA’s organizational work in different areas of the country, especially in the approximately five hundred base committees,

These committees were particularly visible during election weeks in Montevideo, a city with a progressive majority. FA flags hang on the balconies And on cars, as well as several walls painted with the names of Orsi, Cose and the main slogan: “Safe Change”Reflects a campaign marked by restraint and political centrism.

“It’s also thanks to our wives, our comrades, our people who helped us do this miracle called Frente Amplio, which is supported by thousands of militants,” Pereira said. More than many can imagine.

“The truth is that it is a tremendous joy, because to have suffered so much, to wait five very bad years with another president, it is pure celebration. Yamandu Orsi “He won for the people, people knew who to vote for, they realized what another president had done,” Christina, 60, said with her FA cap and flag in front of the stage, where Those who will be in front will talk about the executive till March 1st.

progressivism is coming

Orsi will take office after five years of government white PartyUnder the leadership of Lacalle Pouw, formed a coalition with other right-wing parties such as the traditional colorado partyThe outgoing government was marked by corruption scandals, such as the affair involving the former security chief of Lacalle Pouw, Alejandro EstescianoConvicted of conspiracy to commit a crime, or the famous case of the Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastian MarcetPossible ties to the government were indicated due to the irregularity of the delivery of the Express Passport while he was in prison.

However, according to some polls, Lacaille Poe maintains an approval rating of more than 45%, a high rating in the context of governments in the region, which often have difficulty maintaining their mandates with a positive image. Delgado presented himself as a continuation of Lacalle Pou restrained style The new rights contrast with the affirmation of the state’s role in matters such as housing or health.

Orsi will now have the challenge of leading a new FA government, having already ruled between 2005 and 2020. Tabare Vazquez, Pepe MujicaAnd then again as President. Mujica, who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer, was particularly active in the final stages of the presidential campaign, lending his support to Orsi in interviews and attending some events.

Referring to the upcoming challenges, Perera indicated public Which “will obviously be development, growth and distribution, and in this the FA is going to put all its forces. There can be no retirees, pensioners with an income of 17,000 pesos, there can be no workers, 570,000 who earn less than 25,000 pesos We have to solve that problem, it’s not going to happen overnight but clearly we’re going to solve it.”

a complex neighborhood

Orsi will be president in a separate area from the one left by the previous Vazquez government, who died in 2020. One of the first points in focus will be the relationship with argentinaA neighbor to Uruguay, ruled by Javier Milie, who leads a foreign policy at odds with chronic diplomatic tensions with progressive actors in the region, and who last week made an announcement, as of now uncertain and unconfirmed, free trade agreements With the United States.

This Miley policy of regional disintegration under Miley’s leadership is in contradiction to the foreign policy that the FA declared it would implement, as can be read in the Programmatic Base 2025–2030, which indicates, e.g. , that it must “be strengthened and strengthened” and expand it MERCOSUR as the first block of regional integration in the political, cultural, social, economic and commercial spheres”.

In the context of uncertainty caused by the upcoming arrival of Donald Trump to the White House with a pre-announced aggressive policy towards Latin America, Orsi will have an ally in Brasília, governed by Lula da Silva, headed by the next Secretary of State. , marco rubio,

Uruguay will begin a new progressive five-year period led by one of the oldest experiences of unity Latin America Such as the FA, which was founded in 1971, before the last dictatorship that lasted between 1973 and 1985. A government in a political system that once again showed democratic determinationAs well as large areas of consensus, something that makes the country of 3.5 million people sandwiched between Argentina and Brazil an increasingly unusual place in the region.