Alvaro Delgadothe coalition candidate, will face Yamandú Orsi, representative of the Wide Frontfor the presidency of the Republic. After the results of last Sunday, Delgado stated: “The coalition beats the Frente Amplio again,” highlighting the strength of his political group in the current electoral contest.
In a meeting held this Monday, the coalition leaders met with Delgado and his running mate, Valeria Ripoll. During this meeting, efforts were coordinated to develop a “commitment to country 2”which will be based on the coalition program, including elements and ideas proposed by the different parties that make up it. The person responsible for this coordination will be Agustín Iturralde, from the National Party.
Delgado also spoke about the main axes of his campaign, highlighting the need to address issues such as job creation, disability, mental health and addictions, as well as the fight against drug trafficking. “We are going to insist on some issues. In addition to the usual ones, such as job creation, we are going to include a lot of the topic disability, mental health and addictions, They are important. The theme of the fight against drug trafficking which is a topic that obsesses us,” he added.
Reflections on the previous ballot
In Delgado’s opinion, the circumstances of the 2019 runoff are significantly different from the current ones. “Lacalle Pou had to build the coalition after October”he commented, referring to the need to consolidate alliances after the first round. He also highlighted that in the past there was no certainty about the duration of the alliance and that some political parties found it necessary to support outside candidates.
The candidate emphasized the strengthening of the coalition, pointing out that the different parties have internalized their support. He also stated: “Today you ask any voter from the Independent Party, Cabildo Abierto, the Colorado Party, the National Party, also from Eduardo Lust with the Constitutional Environmentalist Party, who they vote for, and they vote directly for the one with the most votes, in this case the one from the National Party , they vote for us for the runoff.”
Delgado was optimistic about the role that the Colorado Party will play in the runoff. In relation to the statements of senator-elect Andrés Ojeda, who mentioned that this party was “uneven,” Delgado maintained that the contribution of all parties is crucial and that each one will play a role in the future government.
Preparations for the future
The candidate expressed his willingness to act as a “articulator” effective upon assuming the presidency, a quality he considers essential to leadership. “Who are you going to entrust to manage the helm of Uruguay? In the beautiful moments and in the others and there I believe that we are going to give people peace of mind, certainties,” he commented, reflecting his focus on political stability.
Delgado also addressed the electoral result that affected the chambers of Senators and Deputies, pointing out that the lack of a clear majority imposes the need to generate expanded agreements. He considered that this scenario is an indication that “the plaster hands are over,” advocating for a more effective consensus policy that prioritizes the interests of Uruguay.
The Electoral Court plans to organize a presidential debate prior to the runoff, something that Delgado has considered appropriate. He indicated that he had been interested in participating in debates before the October elections, although he emphasized that the Frente Amplio candidate chose not to attend several previous instances, which he described as “a shame,” since he considers that these meetings contribute to the democratic quality and the information of the electorate.
