Uruguay Presidential Election Set for Runoff

Uruguay's presidential election is headed for a run-off on November 24, as no candidate secured a majority in the initial voting. Center-left candidate Yamandú Orsi leads with approximately 41.5% of the vote, followed by conservative Álvaro Delgado at about 28.7%, while social media-savvy Andrés Ojeda trails with around 16.8%, indicating he may support Delgado to prevent a leftist victory. The election has focused on issues of rising crime and poverty, with voters concerned about the socio-economic challenges, including one-in-five children living in poverty. Preliminary exit polls suggest that significant plebiscites on pension reform and police powers have been rejected, reflecting a desire for economic stability. The political landscape in Uruguay remains notably centrist compared to the more polarized environments in neighboring Latin American countries. Voter turnout was high, with 89% participation from the eligible 2.7 million electorate.