MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Vazquez anticipates victory in November and pledges consensuses with other political forces

On Monday “we begin a new chapter in the struggle to reach the presidency”, said Vazquez to a massive crowd at a rally in downtown Montevideo.

Uruguay's ruling coalition Broad Front presidential candidate Tabare Vazquez underlined on Sunday night that his political force received the most votes and is in the “threshold” of again having a parliamentary majority; however he anticipated he was willing to work to reach consensuses in political and social issues with other parties or groupings.

 ”According to the data we possess, the different projections, although we prefer to wait for tomorrow (Monday) for the official results, we are in a position to anticipate that we are in the threshold of a parliamentary majority“ said Vazquez addressing cheering militants.

Vazquez also congratulated the Broad Front for having impeded that the lowering of criminal responsibility age, did not prosper: ”to the rejoice of all of us, NO took the day“ said the candidate who received a standing applause and chanting of 'Uruguay, Uruguay!'

”A majority of people voted for this political force, but we still have a run-off“ said Vazquez admitting that political campaigns ”are long, tedious, boring and scare voters“, but nevertheless as of Monday ”we begin a new chapter in the struggle to reach the presidency“.

”We're not re-founders or for restoration; this is plain clear, and you can be sure that in this second electoral time we're not moving anywhere. Ideas, projects, history and results must be addressed and not covered up or camouflaged. We are what we are, we are what we think and act as we say we are“.

Vazquez then went on to express that the dispute now was very simple: ”advance along the path of social and economic progress, or a completely different government that would resort to the old politics that led the country to stagnation“.

And ”it would be very bad, extremely incorrect to call people to confusion during the campaign“ and insisted on all Uruguayans to check on the results of the different governments: we have the obligation and responsibility of expanding and deepening all this information”.

The Broad Front presidential candidate went on to mention improvements such as salaries, old age pensions, household incomes, and pledged to continue battling against poverty. “We will continue to lower poverty indexes, not only because of our sensitivity towards the weak, but because there is no development if we don't incorporate all those fellow country people to the world of work and jobs”

Further on Vazquez publicly thanked Colorado party presidential candidate Pedro Bordaberry who phoned to congratulate him on the performance of the Broad Front that Sunday election day. “This is a gesture which exalts the candidate”, said Vazquez who revealed the two had agreed to meet later this week or the following.

Anyhow Vazquez pledged to work hard from government in search of all possible political and social consensuses, so that all fellow country people can enjoy a better life quality, and for this “dialogue with other political forces and tolerance are more significant that the parliamentary majorities we might conquer”.

“We don't want a country of unanimities, it would not be good and it would not be possible”, underlined the candidate, but admitted he was convinced it was possible to reach points of understanding between members from the Broad Front and other political groupings“.

Finally he invited all Uruguayans to celebrate: ”celebrate Uruguayans, celebrate” recalling that was his first message when first elected president (in the first round) in October 2004. “Between us, all Uruguayans we are going to build a country for all Uruguayans: fairer, more fraternal, more human. Victory forever!!”