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Uruguayan Ruling Coalition Widens Lead
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Uruguay’s conservative parties are losing ground to the governing leftist parties, according to a poll by Interconsult published in Últimas Noticias. 45 per cent of respondents would vote for the ruling Progressive Encounter - Broad Front (EP-FA) in this year’s general election, while 32 per cent would support the National Party-Whites (PN-B).
Support for the EP-FA coalition is up one point since August, while the PN-B has lost three points.
The Red Party (PC) is third with 11 per cent, followed by the Independent Party (PI) with two per cent. 10 per cent of respondents remain undecided.
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 was president between 1990 and 1995.
On Sept. 17, president Vázquez criticized Mujica—he was never a supporter of the candidate’s nomination by his party—saying, “I share many of the things Mr. Mujica says but not all of them. (…) I particularly disagree with his criticism of everything and everybody, sometimes with a pontificating attitude, on philosophical grounds which finish turns him prisoner of his expressions. Some of them are simply stupidities and I certainly don’t share them”.
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?
|
|
Sept. 2009 |
Aug. 2009 |
Jul. 2009 |
|
Progressive Encounter - Broad Front (EP-FA) |
45% |
44% |
42% |
|
National Party-Whites (PN-B) |
32% |
35% |
36% |
|
Red Party (PC) |
11% |
10% |
10% |
|
Independent Party (PI) |
2% |
2% |
2% |
|
Undecided / Other |
10% |
9% |
10% |
Source: Interconsult / Últimas Noticias
Methodology: Interviews to 900 Uruguayan aged 17 and older, conducted from Sept.
12 to Sept. 14, 2009. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.