Uruguay - elections

Ex-rebel wins Uruguay presidential race

Article published on the 2009-11-30 Latest update 2009-11-30 13:26 TU

Supporters celebrate former guerrilla fighter's win, 29 November 2009
(Photo: Reuters)

Former left-wing guerrilla leader Jose Mujica has won Sunday’s presidential election in Uruguay. The co-founder of the radical leftist Tupamaros movement promised to work on behalf of all his compatriots.

“It is you who should be up on the stage and us who should be cheering for you because it is you who have led this fight,” Mujica told cheering supporters of the left-wing coalition, Frente Amplio, on Monday.

He also reached out to the opposition saying “We must also remember that they are compatriots, who are saddened by these results, and they are our blood brothers and so it must be said that there are no winners and no losers.” 

He promised to "pick a government that does not claim to own the truth ... we need everybody”.

Opposition candidate Luis Lacalle, who was President from 1990 to 1995, conceded defeat after Mujica won some 51 per cent of the vote.

Mujica is the second former Latin American guerrilla to be elected his country's leader after Nicaragua’s ex- Sadinista, Daniel Ortega.

Uruguay’s new President has not hidden his admiration for  Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, arousing criticism from conservatives, but he claims to model himself on popular Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The ex-rebel has chosen a pragmatic running mate in former Finance Minister, Danilo Astori.

The pair have pledged to continue economic policies of outgoing President Tabare Vasquez, which have helped Urugay avoid recession while retaining relatively low unemployment and reducing poverty levels.