MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) 鈥� The presidential candidate of the conservative coalition that has governed Uruguay for the past five years conceded defeat on Sunday after a tight runoff election, as the South American nation joined others around the world in in a year of landmark elections.
Even as the vote count continued, 脕lvaro Delgado, the center-right government鈥檚 candidate, told supporters at his campaign headquarters in the capital of Montevideo that 鈥渨ith sadness, but without guilt, we can congratulate the winner,鈥� referring to left-wing challenger Yamand煤 Orsi.
Fireworks erupted over the stage where Orsi, 57, a working-class former history teacher and two-time mayor from Uruguay's center-left coalition known as the Broad Front, claimed victory as crowds flocked to greet him.
鈥淭he country of liberty, equality and fraternity has triumphed once again,鈥� he said, vowing to unite the nation of 3.4 million people after such a tight vote.
鈥淟et's understand that there is another part of our country who have different feelings today," he said. 鈥淭hese people will also have to help build a better country. We need them too.鈥�
With more than 91% of the votes counted, Orsi had 49.56% support compared to Delgado鈥檚 46.17% in an election in which nearly 90% of voters turned out, according to preliminary data released by the Electoral Court. The rest were blank votes or non-voters.
While failing to entice apathetic young voters and generating extraordinary indecision, Uruguay's lackluster electoral campaigns steered clear of the anti-establishment fury that has vaulted populist outsiders to power elsewhere in the world, like in the United States and neighboring Argentina.
Delgado鈥檚 concession ushers in Orsi as Uruguay鈥檚 new leader and spells an end to a short stint by the center-right party in Uruguay. The 2019 election of President Luis Lacalle Pou interrupted 15 consecutive years of rule by the Broad Front.
鈥淚 called Yamand煤 Orsi to congratulate him as President-elect of our country,鈥� Lacalle Pou wrote on social media platform X, adding that he would 鈥減ut myself at his service and begin the transition as soon as I deem it appropriate.鈥�
Orsi's victory was the latest sign that simmering discontent over post-pandemic economic malaise favors anti-incumbent candidates. In the many elections that took place during 2024, voters frustrated with the status quo have punished ruling parties from the U.S. and Britain to South Korea and Japan.
But unlike elsewhere in the world, Orsi is a moderate who plans no radical changes and agrees with his opponent on key issues like combating childhood poverty and cracking down on organized crime.
Despite his promise to lead a 鈥渘ew left鈥� in Uruguay, his platform resembles the mix of market-friendly policies and welfare programs that characterized the Broad Front鈥檚 tenure from 2005-2020. The coalition of leftist and center-left parties presided over a period of economic growth and pioneering social reforms that won widespread international acclaim.
Behind Uruguay鈥檚 legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and was former , an ex-Marxist guerilla and mentor to Orsi.
Mujica, now 89 and , turned up at his local polling station before balloting even began, praising Orsi鈥檚 humility and Uruguay鈥檚 famous stability.
鈥淭his is no small feat,鈥� he said of Uruguay鈥檚 鈥渃itizenry that respects formal institutions.鈥�
Orsi proposes tax incentives to lure investment and social security reforms that would lower the retirement age but fall short of a radical overhaul sought by Uruguay鈥檚 unions that failed to pass in October, with Uruguayans rejecting generous pensions in favor of fiscal constraint.
鈥淗e鈥檚 my candidate, not only for my sake but also for my children鈥檚,鈥� Yeny Varone, a nurse at a polling station, said of Orsi. 鈥淚n the future they鈥檒l have better working conditions, health and salaries.鈥�
Delgado, 55, a rural veterinarian with a long career in the National Party, served most recently as Secretary of the Presidency for Lacalle Pou and campaigned under the slogan 鈥渞e-elect a good government.鈥�
With inflation easing and the economy expected to expand by some 3.2% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund, Delgado has promised to continue pursuing his predecessor鈥檚 pro-business policies. Lacalle Pou, who constitutionally cannot run for a second consecutive term, has enjoyed high approval ratings.
But the official results trickling in Sunday showed that mounting complaints in Uruguay about years of sluggish economic growth, stagnant wages and the government鈥檚 struggle to stem an upsurge in violent crime helped to swing the election against Delgado's party.
In the weeks after the Oct. 27 general election 鈥� in which neither front-runner secured an outright majority 鈥� most polls had showed a virtual tie between Delgado and Orsi.
Turnout on Sunday stood at 89.4% in the nation where voting is compulsory, with over 2.7 million citizens registered.
In his victory speech, Orsi struck a conciliatory tone.
鈥淚 will be the president who calls for national dialogue again and again, who builds a more integrated society and country,鈥� he said, adding that he would get to work 鈥渟tarting tomorrow.鈥�
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Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Villa Tunari, Bolivia, contributed to this report.
Nayara Batschke, The Associated Press
