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.
The reelected President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff called President Cristina Fernandez on Monday to thank her Argentine counterpart for her message of congratulations following victory at the polls, as well as organizing a bilateral meeting in Australia during the G20 summit.
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.
On Sunday 2.6 million Uruguayan registered voters will decide who will be their next president plus 30 Senators and 99 Lower House members. If no presidential candidate makes 50% of valid ballots plus one, the most probable result a run off takes place at the end of November between the two most voted candidates.
The three main presidential candidates for Uruguay's Sunday 26 October election closed their campaigns on Thursday evening with three huge political rallies that gathered thousands of militants and put an end to months of travel, speeches, flesh pressing and baby kissing, in what could prove to be the tightest race in recent years.
The last round of public opinion polls in anticipation of Uruguay's Sunday general election (Executive and legislative), released on Wednesday evening by the main television channels, shows that the next government will not enjoy a majority in congress and there will be a presidential runoff at the end of November.