MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguayan president-elect begins round of talks on four basic issues

Pedro Bordaberry, leader of the junior opposition Colorado party

Uruguayan president elect Jose Mujica and the leader of the junior opposition Colorado Party Pedro Bordaberry met Monday afternoon and agreed to collaborate at technical level in several issues that are considered crucial for the country.

“We agreed that the Colorado party will contribute at technical level with experts in security, energy, climate and education. However this does not mean we are talking about a coalition government. These are basically issues on which all political parties have agreed a common effort is needed to address them and they are among the main concerns of people”, said Bordaberry following the brief half hour meeting.

Although Mujica invited the Uruguayan opposition leaders for next Thursday, the meeting with Bordaberry had to be anticipated since he is travelling overseas Tuesday.

Bordaberry also brushed aside any conditions such as government posts in the coming administration for the Colorado party in support of Mujica’s initiative.

“We haven’t even thought about it. What matters is Uruguay and these issues are in everybody’s agendas, and don’t belong to any single party. We’re proposing a new form of making politics: it’s no longer exchange of favours. We must think in those things that really matter”, underlined Bordaberry.

Finally he said he was pleased about the meeting the day after the Sunday run-off particularly since during the campaign “we had notorious differences” with president elect Mujica.

Mujica praised Bordaberry’s attitude and confirmed the meeting later this week with the leaders of the main opposition National party and his Sunday run-off rival Luis Alberto Lacalle.

“The idea is to talk about these four main issues on which we all agree. Later I will meet with the different leaders of the Broad Frong (ruling coalition). But with the National party I would also like to start exchanging ideas about something bigger, long term”, said Mujica.

The president elect said that in the coming days he would be naming the different delegates to the task force that will meet with representatives from President Tabare Vazquez administration to begin working on the transition.

Mujica will be taking office next March first. As to the following political meetings after this week he said they could probably take place in Parliament.