The left-wing Broad Front wins Uruguay’s presidential election

On November 24, Uruguayans went to the polls for the run-off presidential election to choose between the continuity of the right-wing National Party with candidate Álvaro Delgado or the return of the center-left Broad Front coalition with candidate Yamandú Orsi. With 100% of the votes counted, Orsi and his vice presidential candidate Carolina Cosse won with 49.84% (1,196,789 votes) against Delgado’s 45.86% (1,101,296 votes).

89% of the 2.7 million eligible voters participated in the electoral process. Many analysts predicted that the Broad Front would not be able to clinch a win in the second round given that, in the previous election, the right-wing managed to rally other parties in favor of the right-wing candidate, Lacalle Pou, who advanced to the second round in 2019.

However, this time the trend changed. Orsi’s social democratic discourse of rescuing public institutions managed to convince more voters than the neoliberal proposals of Álvaro Delgado, seen as a continuation of the unpopular President Lacalle Pou. 

Before the official results were announced, the Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou, publicly congratulated Orsi, thus acknowledging the electoral defeat. “I called Yamandú Orsi to congratulate him as President-elect of our country and to place myself at his disposal to begin the transition as soon as I consider it appropriate,” Lacalle Pou said.

For his part, the president-elect, making a speech of conciliation with the political forces of the right, said before his supporters, “[I want to give] many thanks to all who have made this campaign an exemplary [electoral] campaign… We achieved triumph… But there is another part of our people today with another feeling. Those people will also have to help us build a better country. We need them too.”

Yamandú Orsi presidente y Carolina Cosse vicepresidenta del pueblo uruguayo ✌️ pic.twitter.com/X2LDeFkv4W

— Frente Amplio (@Frente_Amplio) November 25, 2024

Another progressive win for Latin America

As the region faces a moment of uncertainty with the return of a hyper-aggressive US administration under Donald Trump, the ascension of another progressive leader to the executive was widely celebrated by leaders across the region.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva wrote, “This is a victory for the whole of Latin America and the Caribbean. Brazil and Uruguay will continue to work together in Mercosur and other forums for fair and sustainable development, peace, and regional integration.”

For her part, the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, posted on her X account, “The Broad Front returns to govern by the will of the Uruguayan people that once again demonstrates its democratic and progressive vocation.”

The President of Honduras Xiomara Castro added her congratulations, claiming that Orsi’s victory “reaffirms the progressive and democratic trend in Latin America.”

Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia, also greeted the new president highlighting the possibility of a democratic political change, “A big hug to Yamandú, the new president of Uruguay. This triumph reflects the will for unity and change of the Latin American people.”

The President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, joined in the congratulations: “We express our willingness to deepen the bilateral relations and brotherhood between both countries.”

For his part, Nicolás Maduro, President of Venezuela, said via Telegram that, “I congratulate the Uruguayan people for the elections held this November 24, in which they elected Yamandú Orsí, to whom I wish and predict the greatest success. Let’s move towards constructing a respectful and positive relationship, of cooperation and shared support between our countries. A big Bolivarian hug to the Broad Front and our Uruguayan brothers!”