(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Uruguay’s Progressive Encounter – Broad Front (EP-FA) is heading to this month’s elections with a solid advantage, according to a poll by Factum. 44 per cent of respondents would vote for the governing alliance of left-wing parties, unchanged since September.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Uruguay’s Progressive Encounter – Broad Front (EP-FA) is heading to this month’s elections with a solid advantage, according to a poll by Factum. 44 per cent of respondents would vote for the governing alliance of left-wing parties, unchanged since September.
The opposition National Party-Whites (PN-B) are second with 29 per cent—down three points in a month—followed by the Red Party (PC) with 11 per cent, the Independent Party (PI) with three per cent, and the People’s Assembly (AP) with only one per cent. The results of this survey suggest that a presidential run-off will be required.
Tabaré Vázquez—nominee for the EP-FA—won the October 2004 election with 50.45 per cent of the vote, becoming the first Uruguayan president to represent a political organization other than the PC and the PN-B.
The president officially took over in March 2005, and began his government with majorities in the Chamber of Deputies—with 52 lawmakers in the 99-seat lower house—and the Chamber of Senators—with 18 legislators in the 31-seat upper house. Vázquez is constitutionally barred from seeking a second consecutive term.
In late June, Uruguay’s four main political parties held a non-mandatory primary ballot to select their presidential candidates. Senator José Mujica secured the nomination for the EP-FA, former president Luis Alberto Lacalle won the PN-B nod, Pedro Bordaberry will run for the PC, and Pablo Mieres will be the contender for the PI.
The 74-year-old Mujica is a former leader of the rebel Tupamaros National Liberation Movement (MLN). Lacalle served as president between 1990 and 1995.
On Oct. 13, former economy minister Danilo Astori—Mujica’s running mate—said that the country "needs another leftist government in order to deepen the achievements" of the outgoing administration, adding, "Despite the international troubles Uruguay has very good economic numbers; there is stability and international confidence" in the country’s management.
Uruguay will hold presidential and legislative elections on Oct. 25.
Polling Data
If the presidential and parliamentary elections took place this Sunday, which party would you vote for?
|
|
Oct. 2009 |
Sept. 2009 |
Aug. 2009 |
|
Progressive Encounter – Broad Front (EP-FA) |
44% |
44% |
46% |
|
National Party-Whites (PN-B) |
29% |
32% |
34% |
|
Red Party (PC) |
11% |
11% |
10% |
|
Independent Party (PI) |
3% |
2% |
2% |
|
People’s Assembly (AP) |
1% |
1% |
0.5% |
|
Undecided / Other |
12% |
10% |
7.5% |
Source: Factum
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 968 Uruguayan adults, conducted on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4, 2009. Margin of error is 3.3 per cent.
