Voters in ‘boring’ Uruguay to pick between 2 centrists

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — 

The tiny South American federation of Uruguay is holding a remarkably civilized wide predetermination connected Sunday that pits an incumbent blimpish conjugation against a mean left-wing confederation successful a state escaped from the governmental histrionics of different statesmanlike contests astir the world.

No 1 expects the result of the ballot to herald drastic alteration successful this federation of 3.4 cardinal people, agelong heralded arsenic a exemplary ideology and land of stableness successful the region.

With the main parties successful wide statement connected galore issues, the run is being fought implicit elector concerns similar kid poorness and security. Rising homicides and robberies correspond the biggest interest for Uruguayans, polls show, adjacent though the state is 1 of the region's safest.

"In a way, Uruguay has been boring, but boring successful this consciousness is precise good," said Juan Cruz Díaz, a governmental expert who runs the Cefeidas consultancy radical successful Buenos Aires. "We've seen truthful galore melodramatic changes successful Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia and abruptly we look elections successful Uruguay successful which determination is simply a wide consensus, there's stability."

While successful neighboring Brazil and Argentina, voters precocious vented their rage astatine the presumption quo, Uruguay's electorate remains mostly satisfied with the government's business-friendly policies and the economy's dependable growth. The existent center-right president, Luis Lacalle Pou, enjoys a 50% support rating.

As law word limits barroom Lacalle Pou from moving for a 2nd consecutive term, the governing party's campaigner is Álvaro Delgado, 55, a congressman and Lacalle Pou's erstwhile main of unit who started his vocation arsenic a veterinarian.

"This authorities leaves america with a precise coagulated archetypal level to proceed gathering the future," Delgado said astatine his closing run rally.

His main challenger is Yamandú Orsi, 57, a center-left erstwhile politician and past teacher with humble roots from the Frente Amplio (or Broad Front) coalition, which governed for 15 years earlier Lacalle Pou's 2019 victory. His run ads amusement him drinking mate, the herbal portion beloved by Uruguayans, and walking his canine successful casual wear.

From 2005-2020, Frente Amplio oversaw progressive laws, specified arsenic the legalization of same-sex marriage. Uruguay became the archetypal state successful the satellite to legalize cannabis for recreational usage and developed 1 of the greenest grids, powered by 98% renewable energy.

The latest polls amusement Orsi successful a comfy pb astatine 44%, but not winning outright, which would nonstop the state to a run-off connected Nov. 24.

Orsi has benefited from the enactment of fashionable erstwhile President José "Pepe" Mujica, the eccentric erstwhile guerrilla who helped spearhead Uruguay's translation into the continent's astir socially wide state during his 2010-2015 presidency. Now 89, Mujica is battling esophageal cancer.

Like Mujica, who lives successful a humble farmhouse connected the outskirts of Montevideo, Orsi says helium wouldn't unrecorded successful the statesmanlike palace if elected.

In a distant 3rd is Andrés Ojeda, 40, a muscular and media-savvy lawyer who has tried to energize apathetic young voters with splashy run videos showing him lifting astatine the gym and describing himself arsenic a classical Capricorn.

"I privation to beryllium the campaigner who inspires and enthralls people," helium said astatine his run lawsuit Thursday.

He told The Associated Press that his unconventional benignant draws inspiration from different charismatic "leaders of the caller politics" successful Latin America wielding societal media to amass fans, similar El Salvador's populist Nayib Bukele and Argentina's extremist libertarian Javier Milei. But helium backs the ruling conjugation and promises nary extremist change.

Voters successful the federation of 3.4 cardinal volition besides take the adjacent vice president and members of parliament connected Sunday.

Perhaps much arguable than the country's statesmanlike contention is simply a law referendum besides held Sunday that would overhaul Uruguay's societal information system.

If approved by much than 50% of voters, the $23 cardinal strategy backed by the country's almighty leftist unions would little the status age, boost payouts and transportation Uruguayans' privately managed savings to a government-run trust.

Both starring candidates person spoken retired against the proposal, which has already sent tremors done planetary markets. Shrugging disconnected the fiscal consequences, supporters accidental it would redistribute Uruguay's resources much fairly.