MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina's visiting Scioli was the first to officially announce Vazquez' victory

The presidential hopeful described Uruguay/Argentina relations as 'excellent' and even better if he is successful in his presidential bid.

Buenos Aires province governor Daniel Scioli who on Sunday travelled to Montevideo to congratulate elected president Tabare Vazquez, unknowingly was the first person to officially confirm the victory of Uruguay's next leader a few minutes after voting booths were closed.

 In effect, Scioli who is pointed out as the most probable successor of Cristina Fernandez in Argentina's presidential election next year, on approaching Vazquez headquarters at a local hotel in downtown Montevideo told the local media he had come to express his compliments, and those of the Argentine people to the elected Uruguayan president, 'a clear winner' in the runoff, and a very good friend.

Although the Uruguayan media and analysts were well aware of Vazquez' victory, under local legislation there can't be any announcements until an hour after all votes are collected, and thus were complying and waiting for the deadline.

But in comes Scioli out of the rainy blue with words of praise for the victor and his ruling coalition, underlining the close ideological stands of the two leaders, and recalling that Vazquez had campaigned in Buenos Aires among the many Uruguayans living in Argentina inviting them to come and vote on Sunday.

Scioli also confirmed he is a presidential candidate for next year's election in Argentina and hopes to keep working closely with Uruguay and elected president Vazquez, with whom, he said, he had met on several occasions including during the October first round.

The presidential hopeful described Uruguay/Argentina relations as 'excellent' and even better if he is successful in his presidential bid.

When asked about the fact he had entered politics in the nineties, chosen by Carlos Menem, a bad word for the Argentine ruling Kirchner family, Scioli said he had defeated Menem in the 2003 presidential election (as vice-president of Nestor Kirchner).

It was well over half an hour later that Uruguay's local media, when the information ban was lifted, that they finally confirmed late evening what Scioli had announced, Vazquez is Uruguay's next president and will be taking office on March first 2015.