Vazquez 'victory' in Uruguay poll

Tabare Vazquez looks the likely victor in exit polls

The left-wing candidate in Uruguay's presidential election, Tabare Vazquez, has claimed victory after exit polls put him firmly in the lead.

A triumphant Mr Vazquez appeared in front of thousands of celebrating supporters in a plaza in Montevideo.

His main rival has admitted defeat but no official result has been released.

If he is confirmed the victor, he will be the country's first left-wing president, following a trend set by Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Venezuela.

Celebrations

The BBC's Elliott Gotkine in Montevideo describes fireworks lighting up the night sky as the first exit polls came through.

If Mr Vazquez has polled over 50%, as they suggest, he will avoid a run-off.

"Celebrate, Uruguayans!" Mr Vazquez told thousands of people gathered in front of the headquarters of the Frente Amplio (Broad Front) coalition he heads.

"This victory is yours," he said, before thanking them for their support. Afterwards, at a press conference, a clearly emotional Mr Vazquez said it had been a "magical night", and that he would not let Uruguay down.

Mr Vazquez was running against Jorge Larranaga of the centre-right National Party, and Guillermo Stirling from the ruling Colorado Party.


After so many years of anger, it's just pure happiness
Luis Sancristobal
Flag seller
All three candidates tried to convince voters that they were best placed to manage the country's economy following its worst-ever crisis in 2001 and 2002.

Mr Larranaga conceded defeat after exit polls suggested he had taken about 30% of the vote.

Voting is compulsory in Uruguay, and 2.5 million people out of a population of 3.4 million were eligible to vote. They also chose 31 senators and 99 deputies.

Final results are expected at about 0200 local time (0400 GMT).

'Time for change'

Mr Vazquez's party has never before won an election, while the parties of his two rivals have dominated Uruguayan politics since the 1830s.

Mr Vazquez, a 64-year-old cancer specialist and former mayor of Montevideo, has run for the presidency twice before and lost on both occasions. But his popularity has grown over the past few years.

Although the economy is now recovering strongly, one in three Uruguayans live below the poverty line.

Unemployment is almost 15% and many Uruguayans feel that after 170 years of two-party rule, the time for change has come, our correspondent says.

"After so many years of anger, it's just pure happiness," Luis Sancristobal, 29, told Reuters news agency as he sold flags to people celebrating in Montevideo.

GOOD
VERY GOOD

Socialismo!

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1220-23.htm

It's funny how South American countries haven't realized Argentina's mistake, nor realized how Chile turned their nation around.

Regardless of what happened in Argentina, you should never hold up Chile as an example of "turning things around" if you expect to not be seen as a right-wing wacko.

--PunkDavid

Are we talking as of 1973 or 1988? There's a BIG BIG difference there.

Yup, bad things happened in Chile many moons ago. But great things happened in Argentina many moons ago.

I am well aware of what took place, but perhaps you should actually take an honest look at where Chile is today, and compare that with the rest of South America. Then see what is unique about Chile as opposed to the rest of South America. Argentina was once a great country, and it has since plunged into third worlddom once again thanks to leftists. Meanwhile, Chile is prospering like no other country in South America.

That is why I don't understand how South Americans continue to embrace socialism...it's failing their people...

Dont compare us with Argetina!! Here we have a very serious economic politic, not that populist shit from "los hermanos"

So...economically speaking. From the average persons perspective. What country is doing better for itself? Chile, or Brazil?

and cuba

I dont know much about Chile but Brazil did a very good recovery this year

the red star will shine

uehueaaueuaeuae...and who says we do?

Are you aware that the copper industry in Chile is owned by the government? Copper is by far the #1 industry in Chile... their economy is completely dependent on it. So Chile isn't exactly the model of private enterprise you think it is.

Still, from what I read, the government runs the copper industry like any large corporation would... they ravage the environment and don't care much about the working conditions of the miners.

Exactly, how a countries economy is doing and how its people are doing are 2 completely different things. The world is still awaiting an apology from America over Pinochet.

Well, in a free society (certainly not one like Pinochet's), I tend to think that they would be less exclusive.



Well, at least Chileans should get one. But don't worry, there's separate apologies for Guatemala, Iran, Iraq, the Kurds, ....

Indeed, gotta say I don't know much about Allendes, but I'm sure he was no Hussein

The world is still awaiting an apology from USA over Bush

Ugh.

I'm talking about Chile from say...a three decade historical perspective. Chile has turned more left over the years, and if anything it has had a negative effect on the economy. Look at what Chile CAME FROM, then look where they are now. It's staggering!

Find me a country that has a lower poverty rate in South America.
Find me a country that has more people invested in South America.
Find me a country that has higher GDP growth.

Chile is on the brink of no longer being a 3rd world nation...if even is a third world nation. When you have sustained 8% GDP growth for two decades...that says something about your country, its economy, and the general condition of its people. You can't just wave a magic wand and suddenly expect a country that had half of its people on the brink of starvation to suddenly become America over night.

Chile is unique to South America in that it is has been growing with strength for quite some time now, with a 2002 hiccup due to the global economy. There is no country in South America that compares to Chile these days. And it's largely due to these nations embracing leftist governments that have repeatedly failed their people.

Again, compare Chile twenty years to Argentina twenty years ago. One was the epitome of a hell hole, one was a prospering first world country. Today one is the economic model of South America, and the other is a third world country.

Alrighty then--now I can proceed.

Are you really going to try to justify the ends of a prosperous Chilean ecomony today via the means of Pinochet's brutal regime?