President Lula (PT) used social media to congratulate leftist Yamandú Orsi for his victory in the second round of the presidential elections in Uruguay, this Sunday (24).
According to Lula, the election of Yamandú Orsi was a “victory for all of Latin America and the Caribbean”.
“I want to congratulate the Uruguayan people for holding democratic and peaceful elections and, in particular, the elected president Yamandú Orsi, the Frente Amplio and my friend Pepe Mujica for their victory in today’s election. This is a victory for all of Latin America and the Caribbean. Brazil and Uruguay will continue to work together in Mercosur and in other forums for fair and sustainable development, peace and regional integration,” said Lula in a post on social media.
Yamandú Orsi is 57 years old and throughout the campaign he received the support of former president José Mujica, who governed the country between 2010 and 2015.
The president-elect has a degree in History and has already served in politics as governor of the state of Canelones for two terms.
Yamandú Orsi beat candidate Álvaro Delgado, supported by the current president of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou.
According to data released by the Uruguayan Electoral Court, Orsi received support from 49.84% of voters, while Delgado reached 45.86%, with 100% of the ballots counted.
In his victory speech, the leftist stated that he will be the president “of national growth” and that he will build “a more integrated society”.
Who is Yamandú Orsi
As shown by People’s Gazetteattracted by the story of controversial figures such as the guerrilla Che Guevara, in 1989, Yamandú Orsi joined the Popular Participation Movement (MPP), created that year by Mujica and other former guerrillas of the National Liberation Movement-Tupamaros.
It was only in 2005 that his political career took off when he became general secretary of Canelones City Hall.
In 2015, he became mayor of Canelones, where he governed for two consecutive terms.
This year, he was chosen as the candidate of the left-wing Frente Amplio party, which sought to regain power in Uruguay, after the right-wing administration.
His party, the Broad Front, defends several progressive measures such as abortion, legalized in 2012 by the leftist Mujica’s administration, and the production and sale of marijuana for recreational use. Orsi also announced his intention to discuss reducing the minimum retirement age in the country.
The winner of the Uruguayan elections will take office on March 1, 2025 and will govern the country until March 1, 2030.
