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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, May 9th 2025 - 16:07 UTC

Tag: Uruguay elections

  • Saturday, March 1st 2025 - 22:46 UTC

    A new era in Uruguay: Yamandú Orsi takes the Presidential sash

    “This country is one. We build it together, with every region playing a role in its development,” Orsi told a crowd in Montevideo's main square. Photo: EFE/Raúl Martínez

    Former mayor of Canelones and history professor Yamandú Orsi took the stage at Plaza Independencia, the heart of Uruguay’s democratic transitions. A warm embrace with outgoing President Luis Lacalle Pou marked the handover, a moment of continuity in a country that takes pride in its institutional stability. “I’m here if you need me,” Lacalle Pou told Orsi, offering a rare glimpse of camaraderie in the often-divisive world of politics.

  • Monday, November 25th 2024 - 11:19 UTC

    Yamandú Orsi elected President of Uruguay, marking left's return to power

    Yamandú Orsi and Carolina Cosse, the elected formula. Photo: Sebastián Astorga

    Uruguay has elected Yamandú Orsi of the Frente Amplio (FA) as its next president, bringing the left back to power after five years of conservative rule. Orsi secured 49.8% of the vote against 45.9% for Álvaro Delgado of the National Party, a margin of 92,000 votes, according to official results. The outgoing president, Luis Lacalle Pou, promptly congratulated Orsi, stating he was ready to facilitate a smooth transition.

  • Friday, November 1st 2024 - 17:10 UTC

    Lacalle Pou hints at possible return in 2029, talks about regional relations

    The president suggested he would remain engaged in politics, saying, “I will be surrounded by people and politics, because that makes me feel a better person.”

    Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou, months from completing his term, hinted at a possible return in the 2029 presidential election but left the door open.

  • Monday, October 28th 2024 - 10:55 UTC

    Uruguay’s Presidential race heads to runoff as Orsi's Frente Amplio leads first round

    The focus now shifts to the runoff campaign, with both Orsi and Delgado likely to intensify outreach to undecided voters and those who supported other parties in the first round

    Uruguay’s leftist Frente Amplio (FA) secured the top position in the first round of the presidential election. Yamandú Orsi, the FA candidate and former mayor of Canelones, led the race with 43.4% of the vote, propelled by support from former president José “Pepe” Mujica. However, he fell short of the majority threshold needed to avoid a runoff, and a second round is now scheduled for November 24. Orsi’s opponent in the runoff will be Álvaro Delgado, the National Party (PN) candidate, who garnered 27.2% of the vote and leads a coalition of center-right and right-wing parties that include the Colorado Party and Cabildo Abierto.

  • Sunday, October 27th 2024 - 21:55 UTC

    Uruguay's 2024 Election: Voter turnout reaches 40% by midday, anticipating a close race

    The candidate of the leftist Frente Amplio, Orsi, promoted by former president José Pepe Mujica, is the favorite in the polls

    As Uruguayans head to the polls this October 27 to elect their president, vice-president, and Parliament, preliminary reports from the Electoral Court indicate a steady turnout. By midday, 40% of the 2,727,120 eligible voters had cast their ballots across the country's 7,276 polling circuits. Voting is mandatory in Uruguay, with those abstaining required to pay a fine or present a valid excuse, such as illness, disability, or international travel.

  • Thursday, October 24th 2024 - 11:05 UTC

    What the polls say three days before the presidential elections in Uruguay

    Yamandú Orsi (R) of the opposition Frente Amplio leads the race with around 44% support, according to the latest polls from both Cifra and Factum

    Uruguayans will head to the polls on October 27 to elect a successor to President Luis Lacalle Pou and renew the country's Parliament. According to the latest surveys, no candidate is expected to secure the required 50% of votes, setting the stage for a November runoff.

  • Monday, October 21st 2024 - 10:56 UTC

    Uruguay: Mujica makes last public political appearance

    ”No to hatred and confrontation, we must work for hope”, former guerrilla leader Mujica also stressed

    Battling esophageal cancer and age, former Uruguayan President José “Pepe” Mujica made what is believed to be his last public appearance this past weekend by showing up at a rally of “La 609” or MPP, the Broad Front (FA) faction he once founded. “Goodbye, I give you my heart,” Mujica stressed on Saturday during a campaign closing event a week before the Oct. 27 elections.

  • Monday, October 14th 2024 - 17:47 UTC

    In a dull campaign and dull candidates, Uruguay votes new president and parliament on Sunday October 27

    In less than two weeks time, Sunday 27 October, 2,8 million Uruguayan voters will be electing a new president, and a new parliament, 99 Lower House members and 30 Senators for the 2025/2030 period.

  • Monday, October 14th 2024 - 10:43 UTC

    Swing voters to prove decisive in Uruguayan elections, poll finds

    Only 5% of FA voters might not pick Yamandú Orsi while all the other candidates can not be so sure about their constituencies until the last minute

    According to a Cifra survey released this weekend in Montevideo, Uruguay has 11% of swing voters who could end up pivotal in Oct. 27's presidential elections. Hence, political parties should focus on winning them over, the pollsters underlined. Cifra Director Mariana Pomiés underlined that this number could tip the scale at the end of the day.

  • Monday, October 14th 2024 - 09:07 UTC

    Colorado candidate picks wrong analogy to describe Uruguay's relationship with Mercosur

    Ojeda made his point that “Uruguay cannot make 50 threats to leave a Mercosur from which it is never going to leave”

    Colorado Party presidential candidate Andrés Ojeda chose a controversial analogy this weekend to refer to Uruguay's situation within the South American Common Market (Mercosur). He claimed it was affecting his country's credibility not to kill any hostage when hijacking airplanes.

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