MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguayan president bans use of his image in the electoral campaign

Tabare Vazquez called for moderation and unity

Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez banned the use of his image in the closing weeks of the country’s general election next October 25th. The decision was aired in the Uruguayan Presidency site and coincides with the lifting of the ban on political publicity in the media.

“In accordance with his constitutional powers, the President has decided not to authorize the use of his image during the development of the current electoral campaign”, said the short release.

In one of the spots the main opposition National Party, quotes several statements from the incumbent candidate Jose Mujica, with strong criticisms to the Argentine government, the current gang of “thugs” and former president Carlos Menem, “a thief”.

The message concludes with comments from President Vazquez who described Mujica’s statements as “stupidities”.

Mujica’s statements were extracted from a book titled “Colloquies with Pepe” where he not only had harsh comments against Argentine politicians, but also towards other groups of the ruling catch-all coalition Broad Front.

His controversial opinions forced Mr. Mujica to apologize to his coalition associates.

President Vazquez who at the time was in the United States for the United Nations General Assembly first described the quotes as “stupidities” and the following day said that Mujica sometimes is “misunderstood” because he speaks the language of the people, “of the poor, of the needy”.

Vazquez, who is a strong cohesive figure in the ruling coalition, also sent an indirect unity message suggesting that he does not discard running again for president in 2014.

Mujica also said that the Socialist party, (to which President Vazquez belongs) had become a “manpower” office “for hiring people in the government payroll”.

He was particularly irritating about President Vazquez corps of bodyguards.

“The boys who look after the President, all of them lefties and good guys came to see me asking me to keep them in their jobs”, said Mujica.

“They like the money they are making and have gotten use to travel and per diems, it’s only natural, but I had to tell them we’ll see, wait ‘til I’m elected”.

According to the latest public opinion poll released last Friday by Factum, if national elections in Uruguay had been held this Sunday, the incumbent candidate would have garnered 44% of the vote, while the two main opposition parties, National party, 32% and the Colorado party, 11%.

With these percentages (no candidate obtains 50% of the vote) a run-off can be forecasted at the end of November, and the result too tight too anticipate.

With less than a month to the election, the undecided are in the range of 10/12% and the electorate has become “increasingly volatile”, according to Factum pollsters.