Secretary of State John Kerry congratulated on Monday Uruguayan president-elect Tabare Vazquez on his Sunday victory, and said that the US looks forward to working with the new administration and to continue advancing with the vibrant relationship we have had under the leadership of President Jose Mujica.
People have decided and opted for the ticket Tabare Vazquez-Raul Sendic and results must be complied, respected and defended, were Luis Lacalle Pou's first words admitting defeat on Sunday evening to Uruguay's next president Vazquez.
An hour after voting booths were closed on Sunday, and when exit polls confirmed former Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez had been elected by a wide margin as the next leader of the country, Luis Lacalle Pou rang the winner to congratulate him and wish him the best for the country.
On Sunday Uruguayan voters will confirm in a runoff the country's next president, which according to all forecasts will be Tabare Vazquez. An oncologist by training, former president (2005/2009) and former mayor of the City of Montevideo, Vazquez and the Broad Front coalition was just less than three percentage points short of the needed 50% in the first round on October 26.
Uruguay's opposition candidate Luis Lacalle Pou admitted on Thursday that defeating incumbent Tabare Vazquez in the 30 November runoff is 'difficult' but not impossible. In last Sunday's first round the incumbent candidate garnered 47.9% of the vote and Lacalle Pou, 30.9%.
The Organization of American States Secretary General, (OAS), congratulated the Uruguayan people on their democratic spirit shown during Sunday´s general elections. He also extended praise to the two candidates that advanced to the second round, Tabare Vazquez from the ruling Broad Front, and Luis Lacalle Pou from the National Party.
Uruguay's ruling Broad Front coalition, despite pollster forecasts to the contrary, confirmed their dominance of local politics and are likely to enjoy a parliamentary majority, after the Sunday presidential election that left Tabare Vazquez as favorite to succeed José Mujica as head of state.
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.
Pedro Bordaberry, the Colorado party presidential candidate who did not make it to the runoff in Uruguay's Sunday election, announced the country 'urgently needs changes' and in this new scenario National party candidate Luis Lacalle Pou is the option.
Uruguayan pollsters again seem to have missed their target regarding estimate results of Sunday's legislative and presidential elections: the ruling Broad Front coalition presidential candidate Tabare Vazquez took a strong lead in the exit polls, and although he will be forced to a run-off with runner up Luis Lacalle Pou as anticipated, the percentage numbers indicate he should be able to achieve a comfortable win at the end of November, contrary to what was forecasted.