MONTEVIDEO – A former guerrilla fighter was poised yesterday to become the next president of Uruguay, pledging to maintain the ruling leftist coalition’s moderate policies in one of Latin America’s most stable economies.
Jose Mujica (74), who waged a revolt against a democratically elected government in the 1960s and 1970s and was jailed for 14 years, has at least a six-point lead in polls over his centre-right rival, former president Luis Lacalle.
A Mujica victory would keep in power the ruling Broad Front coalition credited by many Uruguayans with lifting the country out of a slump earlier this decade and stoking growth this year in the face of the global slowdown.
Mr Mujica, a farmer and former agriculture minister and senator, vows to continue investor-friendly policies that have helped the economy to expand for six years.
During his campaign he praised Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Latin America’s leading moderate leftist, signalling that he does not intend to bring Uruguay closer to more hard-line leftist leaders such as Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.
Mr Mujica won the most votes in the election’s first round on October 25th, finishing with 48 per cent, to 29 per cent for Mr Lacalle, and falling just short of the outright majority needed to avoid a second round. The winner in the run-off assumes office on March 1st for a five-year term.
Mr Lacalle has raised questions about Mr Mujica’s militant past, suggesting his opponent would be a more radical leader than he has portrayed himself in the campaign.
Mr Mujica however said he will stay the course set by outgoing President Tabare Vazquez, Uruguay’s first socialist leader. Mr Vazquez is barred from seeking a second consecutive term.
“It’s going to be the same dog but with a different collar,” Mr Mujica said.
– (Reuters)