2009 Uruguayan general election explained

Country:Uruguay
Previous Election:2004 Uruguayan general election
Previous Year:2004
Next Election:2014 Uruguayan general election
Next Year:2014
Election Date:25 October 2009 (first round)
29 November 2009 (second round)
Registered:2,563,397
Turnout:89.91% (first round) 0.29pp
89.18% (second round)
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Election Name:Presidential election
Type:presidential
Image1:mujica.jpg
Nominee1:José Mujica
Party1:Broad Front (Uruguay)
Running Mate1:Danilo Astori
Popular Vote1:1,197,638
Percentage1:54.63%
Nominee2:Luis Alberto Lacalle
Party2:National Party (Uruguay)
Running Mate2:Jorge Larrañaga
Popular Vote2:994,510
Percentage2:45.37%
President
Before Election:Tabaré Vázquez
Before Party:Broad Front (Uruguay)
After Election:José Mujica
After Party:Broad Front (Uruguay)
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Election Name:Parliamentary election
Heading1:Chamber
Party1:Broad Front (Uruguay)
Percentage1:49.34
Seats1:50
Last Election1:52
Party2:National Party (Uruguay)
Percentage2:29.90
Seats2:30
Last Election2:36
Party3:Colorado Party (Uruguay)
Percentage3:17.51
Seats3:17
Last Election3:10
Party4:Independent Party (Uruguay)
Percentage4:2.56
Seats4:2
Last Election4:1
Heading6:Senate
Party6:Broad Front (Uruguay)
Percentage6:49.34
Seats6:16
Last Election6:16
Party7:National Party (Uruguay)
Percentage7:29.90
Seats7:9
Last Election7:11
Party8:Colorado Party (Uruguay)
Percentage8:17.51
Seats8:5
Last Election8:3
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Election Name:Maps

General elections were held in Uruguay on 25 October 2009 alongside a two-part referendum. As no candidate for president received more than 50% of the vote, a second round was held on 29 November between the top two candidates, José Mujica of the ruling Broad Front (who received 48% of the vote) and former president Luis Alberto Lacalle of the National Party (29%). Mujica won the run-off with 55% of the vote.

In the parliamentary elections, the Broad Front retained its majorities in both chambers, winning 16 of the 30 seats in the senators and 50 of the 99 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The National Party finished second with 9 senators and 30 deputies, the Colorado Party third with 5 Senators and 17 Deputies, and the Independent Party fourth with 2 deputies.[1]

Primaries

The presidential primary elections were held on 28 June 2009 to nominate a candidate for each party.[2] José Mujica became the Broad Front's candidate, winning over Danilo Astori and Marcos Carámbula. The National Party chose Luis Alberto Lacalle over Jorge Larrañaga and Irineu Riet Correa. Pedro Bordaberry won the Colorado Party candidacy, beating out José Amorín, Luis Antonio Hierro López, and Daniel Lamas. Pablo Mieres (Independent Party) and Raúl Rodríguez (Popular Assembly) ran unopposed. Not all contenders were members of the party they sought to represent.

Presidential candidates

Presidential primaries were held on 28 June to select the candidates.

PartyCandidateIdeologyPrevious result
Votes (%)Seats
Broad FrontJosé MujicaDemocratic socialismSocial democracy50.45%
National PartyLuis Alberto LacalleConservatismChristian democracy34.30%
Colorado PartyPedro BordaberryLiberalism10.36%
Independent PartyPablo MieresChristian humanismChristian democracy1.84%
Popular AssemblyRaúl RodríguezMarxism

Results

Analysts indicated that Mujica won largely because of the popularity of the Broad Front and incumbent President Tabaré Vázquez's pro-business policies that had strengthened the country's economy.[3] After taking office in 2005, Vazquez cut the unemployment rate from 12.3 to 7.3 percent, encouraged trade and foreign investment, increased wages and social spending, and boosted the central bank reserves and the country's credit rating.[4]

The Broad Front retained a majority in parliament with 15 senators (plus Danilo Astori, later elected vice-president and thus president of the General Assembly) out of a total of 30 and 50 deputies out of a total of 99. The National Party came in second with 9 senators and 30 deputies. Both parties lost votes and legislative seats in comparison with 2004. The historically dominant Colorado made gains and increased its representation to 5 senators and 17 deputies. Finally, the Independent Party did not achieve its main goal of winning a seat in the Senate, but obtained 2 seats in the lower chamber.

Pedro Bordaberry led the Colorado Party to a notable electoral recovery, practically doubling its votes cast in 2004. The Independent Party, with candidates Pablo Mieres and Iván Posada, gained an additional seat in the Chamber of Deputies. Popular Assembly, a small, new extreme left party, did not win much support.

By department

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Uruguayan ruling coalition retains majority in next Parliament — MercoPress . En.mercopress.com . 2009-10-27 . 2012-11-08.
  2. http://www.corteelectoral.gub.uy/gxpsites/agxppdwn.aspx?1,15,186,O,S,0,1023%3BS%3B1%3B39, Reglamentación de las elecciones internas de los partidos políticos
  3. News: In Uruguay, former guerrilla wins by moving away from Chávez. Farrell . Jeff. 30 November 2009 . The Christian Science Monitor. 1 December 2009.
  4. News: Former Uruguay Rebel Mujica Wins Presidency on Runoff . Orihuela. Rodrigo . November 30, 2009. Bloomberg. 1 December 2009.