Uruguay Election Heads to Runoff

Uruguay's presidential election has moved to a runoff after no candidate secured the required 50% of votes in the initial round. Former mayor Yamandú Orsi of the center-left Frente Amplio led with 42-44% of votes, while Álvaro Delgado from the center-right coalition garnered 27-28%. The election saw a high voter turnout of 89% among 2.7 million eligible voters, reinforcing the country's reputation as a stable democracy. The runoff on November 24 will determine whether the center-left coalition, which governed from 2005 to 2020, will return to power or if the current center-right coalition will continue its mandate. Key issues include rising crime rates and a controversial pension reform proposal, which all major candidates oppose. The election campaign has been notably civil, contrasting with the divisive politics seen in other parts of Latin America.