MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Vazquez re-election re-emerges strongly in Uruguay

President Tabare Vazquez

Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez is reconsidering the proposal for his re-election next year if the ruling coalition, Broad Front, can't agree on a 2009 consensus presidential ticket during the coming movement's congress.

According to reports which have not been denied, President Vazquez is seriously considering the option if Senator Jose Mujica, belonging to the most voted group of the coalition MPP, insists in heading the ticket instead of former Economy minister Danilo Astori who has the backing of the president. This was the message from President Vazquez to Senator Astori with whom he met last Monday. Astori and Mujica later held talks to consider the new scenario. Senator Mujica insists that the ruling coalition presidential ticket for next year elections must be decided by the Broad Front's congress or in a primary next year as indicated by Uruguayan law. However the catch-all ruling coalition, which nests opposing positions particularly in economic affairs, fears that an open primary could be too harmful for cohesion and too close to October 2009. Therefore the President Vazquez option who is the most popular leader in Uruguay, with over 60% public opinion support and the least controversial figure inside the coalition. A group supposedly spontaneous and not linked to the president has announced that in a few weeks time it will begin to collect signatures to amend the Uruguayan constitution since the re-election option is not contemplated. The formal launching of the "pro-Vazquez" political grouping is scheduled for next Monday. "Once we have the necessary number of signatures we will go and convince the president to review the possibility of his re-election", said Braulio Castro who leads the new movement. "I'm certain next Monday several cabinet ministers will show up for the re-election launching". However the "Vazquez re-election" option seems to have also managed a certain consensus between Mujica and Astori. "I spoke with the president about it three years ago telling him it would solve us a problem. But if that's his decision, we'll have another problem and it could be very enjoyable", said Mujica with certain irony. The MPP leader who likes to boast he has "the charm and the votes", pointed out that what really matters is whether the presidential candidate will be elected by "ten wise men in a room, by the coalition's congress or in an open primary. I will be first to respect whatever the majority decides". "I think President Vazquez has repeatedly said he would not accept such an option, even with profound arguments such as to avoid a rift in the country", said Astori when asked during a political rally about the re-election option. As to collecting signatures, "it's up to them, they can do whatever they wish", and if they have the sufficient number to amend the Constitution, "well, then we'll see" added Astori, who admitted he would have no problem running for vice-president of the 2009 coalition's ticket. But to make things even more interesting President Vazquez has convened the coalition voters to a massive street rally next November 25th at the same place he celebrated the 2004 victory. On the occasion and with only 18 days left for the coalition's congress that should decide on the presidential ticked, in a repeat of October five years ago, Vazquez will address his followers, and "preach for unity and cohesion", according to Government House sources. He will also try to avert the "chaos-law and order" dichotomy that the "conservative" opposition has launched as the main challenge for the next government.