By Uruguay’s 3.4 million voters head to the polls Sunday in a presidential runoff between two moderate candidates, concluding a year of major elections across South America with a notably less polarized contest than those of its neighbors.
The race pits center-left candidate Yamandu Orsi of the Broad Front against conservative Alvaro Delgado, with final polls suggesting fewer than 25,000 votes could separate the frontrunners in this traditionally stable nation known for its beaches, legal marijuana market, and political moderation.
Orsi, who captured 43.9% in October’s first round, has promoted a “modern left” platform while working to reassure voters he won’t dramatically alter policies in the relatively wealthy nation. Delgado, who secured 26.8% in October, has gained additional support from the conservative Colorado Party, replicating the coalition that won the 2019 election.
“This is about re-electing a good government,” said Delgado, who hopes to benefit from incumbent President Lacalle Pou’s popularity, though term limits prevent Pou from seeking immediate re-election. Combined with Colorado Party support, Delgado’s coalition approached 42% in the first round.
Unlike recent sharp ideological battles in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, Uruguay’s campaign has remained largely tension-free, with significant policy overlap between the conservative and liberal coalitions. While neither group holds an absolute majority in the lower house, Orsi’s Broad Front secured 16 of 30 Senate seats in October, which he argues better positions him to govern.
Polling stations open at 8 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. local time, with initial results expected about two hours after polls close.
REUTERS
