In a significant development for Uruguayan politics, Senator Guido Manini Ríos has decided to propose Lorena Quintana as his running mate for the presidency of the Cabildo Abierto party. This choice, which is part of the upcoming national elections scheduled for Sunday, October 27, was announced in a virtual meeting for the party’s top leaders.
The information, confirmed by multiple political sources and initially reported by La Diaria, indicates that Manini introduced Quintana, who until now has directed the Adolescence and Youth Program of the Ministry of Public Health (MSP).
This announcement, however, is still subject to approval by the Cabildo Abierto congress, which will take place on July 28.
This decision comes in a context where the former Minister of Health, Daniel Salinas, had ruled out his political participation. In this regard, Manini Ríos had previously stated that he would seek to form a parity formula, a commitment that seems to be aligned with the election of Quintana.
Lorena Quintana is not only a well-known figure in the field of public health, but she is also the leader of the Encuentro Nacional Cristiano (National Christian Meeting) group. In statements to El País, the candidate explained that her group is made up of former members of the Partido Nacional and the Partido Colorado, who left those groups because they felt “defrauded” by the lack of defense of the Christian values that they once upheld.
There is resistance to Quintana in the Open Town Hall
Despite Manini’s election, the path to Quintana’s final appointment as vice president is not free of opposition. This Saturday, at the National Congress of Cabildo Abierto, the Espacio de los Pueblos Libres, led by Eduardo Radaelli, reached a consensus to propose Rosanna de Olivera as a viable alternative to accompany Manini in the presidential candidacy.
Radaelli, speaking to El País, defended the choice of De Olivera, saying that she is “the most suitable person.” He said that she is “one of the founders of the party,” and also highlighted her “impressive management” of the National Institute for Social Inclusion of Adolescents (INISA). “And ultimately, the people asked for it,” concluded Radaelli, reaffirming the popular support for De Olivera.
However, Quintana’s proposal will face resistance. Some members of the party have expressed their disagreement with Manini’s decision and are considering putting forward the candidacy of deputy Rafael Menéndez, representative of Tacuarembó, as a viable option if it is perceived that Quintana will not obtain the necessary support in the vote.
