MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay's coalition decides: “turn left” or “steady course”

Uruguay's ruling coalition process to nominate a presidential candidate for next year's elections not only involves two hopefuls, but also a common program which, according to the latest events does not seem to be the case as the internal dispute becomes more evident.

"One candidate, one program" has been for the last three decades the moving force behind the constellation of political groups which make up the Broad Front movement that in October 2004 won an overwhelming majority in Uruguay's presidential and legislative elections. The ruling coalition does agree that there are two clear presidential hopefuls for 2009: a charismatic former guerrilla leader and ex Agriculture minister, Jose Mujica and an economist and former Economy minister, Danilo Astori, considered the architect of the economic growth enjoyed by Uruguay these last three years. The original idea launched and sponsored by President Tabare Vazquez is that the ticket should be Astori/Mujica, but this proposal did not convince the former urban guerrilla leader, head of the most voted group in the coalition, MPP, and still senior member in the coalition according to public opinion polls. Now it has emerged that differences are not limited to personality or background, Mr. Mujica plain talking aggressive, almost populist, politician and Mr. Astori, academic, greyish, allergic to smiling. "He's the numbers' brain, but I have the charm and the votes", repeats Mujica who wants a "turn left" for the coalition's program while Mr. Astori prefers the steady, consolidation course, almost status quo. Although the ruling coalition Program Commission has agreed on a basic document with guidelines for 2010/2015, Mr. Mujica group is preparing for the "two visions" debate which is expected to take place in the Broad Front's December congress when the presidential candidate theoretically will be nominated. MPP grass roots argue that in the event of a second coalition government, the incoming administration can't be "a continuity" since the original program remains unaccomplished. "There's has not been an active and guiding role for the state in the process of economic growth and distribution with social justice; nor have we prevented foreigners from buying and concentrating land property, which helps to explain income concentration and disparity with the rest of the population", says the MPP document. "Economic policy is first of all a political decision and therefore the result of a combination of an ethical point of view and power relations from which derive the selection of priorities and resources distribution", adds the report underlining that social policies under the Vazquez administration have been submitted to economic policy. MPP proposals also insist that tax reform (considered by Mr. Astori as possibly the main achievement of his ministry) must be reviewed with corporate taxes increased. "The taxing structure has not changed, contrary to the original announced purposes of the current reform which was to tax profits and wealth instead of consumption". However according to the agreed guidelines "the program for the next five years must consolidate the significant achievements and keep advancing on changes to ensure sustained growth in the long term". Furthermore productive programming must be guided by economics. Although most groups in the coalition have abided, or have not introduced amendments to the guidelines, it's not at all certain what will be the outcome next December of the congress both regarding the coalition's program and who will be responsible for implementing it, if victorious in October 2009.