Delgado, Orsi and Ojeda to serve as presidents — MercoPress

Uruguay internal elections: Delgado, Orsi and Ojeda vie for presidency

The left-wing Broad Front party received more votes than initially expected, while Ojeda and Delgado were, as expected, the candidates of the Colorado Party and the National Party.

Uruguayan elections concluded yesterday with Alvaro Delgado, Armando Orsi and Andrés Ojeda confirmed as the presidential candidates of their respective parties. The elections were held with a significantly low turnout and saw some unexpected developments, especially within the Broad Front (FA) and the National Party (PN).

Frente Amplio exceeds expectations

The left-wing party, the Broad Front, exceeded initial expectations, receiving more than 400,000 votes, surpassing its results in 2014 and 2019. Armando Orsi emerged as the dominant candidate, receiving nearly 60% of the votes, with Carolina Cosse trailing behind with about 35% and Andrés Lima at 3.12%. Despite the intense campaign, Orsi and Cosse appeared united on stage, demonstrating their commitment to party unity. “Today, the Broad Front begins its comeback,” Cosse declared, highlighting the coalition’s renewed vigour.

In his speech, Orsi stressed the need for transparency and inclusivity and pledged not to “govern for one part of the country.” His emphasis on unity and humility clearly communicated to voters his approach to leadership.

Seeking Unity National Party

In the National Party internal elections, Alvaro Delgado won a decisive victory with 74.43% of the votes. Laura Lafo followed with 19.23% and Jorge Gandini with 5.82%. In his post-election speech, Delgado stressed the importance of unity within the party and announced that Agustín Iturralde would play a major role in coordinating a unified campaign plan. This move surprised many, Delgado also revealed that Valeria Ripoll, a former union leader and former Communist Party member, Participation in the Senate race as his running mate and with President Luis Lacalle P, aims to ensure the continuity of the current government’s projects.

Colorado Transition Party

Andrés Ojeda was the unsurprising Colorado Party candidate, receiving 41% of the vote. Ojeda saw his victory as a symbol of political resurgence and called for unity within the coalition to prevent a Broad Front victory in a possible runoff. “To those who tell us it’s impossible, I say the same thing I said in November, that statistics do not decide elections, the game must be played,” Ojeda said as he rallied his supporters.

Alliance Challenges

The coalition parties, which include the Municipal Open Party and the Independence Party, faced a major challenge with low voter turnout. The Municipal Open Party received less than 16,500 votes, a significant drop from 46,887 votes in 2019. Similarly, the Independence Party aimed to receive more than 4,000 votes but received only 2,629 votes, indicating internal divisions and low voter participation.

Álvaro Sín and Valeria Ripoll. Photo: FocUy

In a surprise move, Delgado announced Valeria Ripoll as his vice presidential candidate. Ripoll, a former secretary general of the Adeom labor union, is expected to attract votes from outside the traditional party base. Delgado’s choice was not universally welcomed within the party, sparking some discontent among supporters of other pre-selected candidates. Nonetheless, Delgado’s team believes that Ripoll’s inclusion will increase the party’s appeal and strengthen its outreach efforts.

Delgado also revealed that President Luis Lacalle Puu will join the team to integrate their list in the Senate. This strategic decision underscores the commitment to continuity and uses Lacalle Puu’s influence to consolidate the party’s position. In his speech, Delgado stressed the need for development, job creation, and maintaining decentralization and freedom. He called for a revitalization of the government coalition and unity across the party to ensure a cohesive and effective campaign strategy ahead of the October elections. “The National Party will change its model,” Delgado declared, stressing the move to a more inclusive and progressive approach.