Uruguayan voters are to nominate Sunday (October 27th) a successor to left-wing president Tabaré Vazquez in a general election where the country must also decide on the presence of military on the streets to fight crime.

The elections in this country of 3.4 million people will take place at the same time as those of its imposing neighbor, Argentina and its 44.5 million inhabitants, and while the region is agitated by many political crises : mobilization against the results of the Bolivian presidential election, general strike in Chile and social protest in Ecuador two weeks ago.

A "solid" democracy

"Democracy in Uruguay is very solid, we must take care and anticipate risks," Tabaré Vazquez told reporters on Thursday, his last public appearance before Sunday's vote.

The vote is like a fire test for the left-wing coalition that has been in power since 2005, the Frente Amplio (Enlarged Front, Left), in a complicated economic context, inflation far above the official objectives (7.56% ), an unemployment rate of 9% and security indicators at half-mast, becoming one of the main themes of the election campaign.

Insecurity

Once considered an oasis of peace in a turbulent region, Uruguay has seen insecurity grow on its territory in recent years.

The country, which recorded a record 414 homicides in 2018, a 45% increase over 2017, must decide on a constitutional reform that created the controversy: the creation of a national guard with military personnel who will come perform tasks traditionally performed by the police.

The measure also provides for a tightening of prison sentences for homicides and rapes or the authorization of house searches by judicial order in case of suspicion of unlawful acts.

Although none of the presidential candidates support the measure, and despite an information campaign waged by social movements, the unions and the Frente Amplio against this initiative proposed by a right-wing senator, a majority of Uruguayans would be favorable (53%).

waivers

This first round should logically lead to a tie, according to opinion polls, none of the candidates seeming able to obtain an absolute majority in the first round.

The one who should come first, the former mayor of Montevideo Daniel Martinez, who has 40% of the voting intentions, is not sure of winning the election, for lack of creating alliances.

It is followed by former center-right Senator Luis Lacalle Pou (Partido Nacional) who capitalizes 28% of the voting intentions and who strives to gather around him, including supporters of Partido Colorado (Liberal, 13% voting intentions), and Cabildo Abierto (right, 11%).

The 2.6 million voters renew the entire Parliament, 99 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 30 in the Senate.

The next president will take up his position on March 1, 2020.

With AFP