Latin American countries congratulate Frente Amplio for victory in Uruguay

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva congratulated this Sunday (24) the electoral victory of Yamandú Orsi, candidate of the Frente Amplio, in Uruguay. The return of the left to power in the neighboring country was also welcomed by other leaders in Latin America and the world.

“I want to congratulate the Uruguayan people for holding democratic and peaceful elections and, in particular, the elected president Yamandu Orsi, the Frente Amplio and my friend Pepe Mujica for the victory in today’s election”, published the Brazilian president, as soon as the results of this Sunday were released.

Lula mentioned Mercosur, a free trade economic bloc between countries in the southern cone, such as Brazil and Uruguay, as well as Paraguay, Argentina and, more recently, Venezuela.

I want to congratulate the Uruguayan people for holding democratic and peaceful elections and, in particular, the elected president @OrsiYamanduthe Frente Amplio and my friend Pepe Mujica for victory in today’s election. This is a victory for all of Latin America and the Caribbean. Brazil and…

— Lula (@LulaOficial) November 25, 2024

“This is a victory for all of Latin America and the Caribbean. Brazil and Uruguay will continue to work together in Mercosur and in other forums for fair and sustainable development, for peace and in favor of regional integration”, added Lula.

With the support of former president José Pepe Mujica, Orsi beat the right-wing coalition candidate Álvaro Delgado. With practically 100% of the ballots counted, the electoral court indicated 49.8% of the votes for Orsi, against 45.9% for Delgado. Now, Uruguay will once again have a left-wing president after five years.

Another member of the bloc, the Chief Executive of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, also celebrated the elections in Uruguay and congratulated Orsi.

“I congratulate the Uruguayan people for their massive participation in this Sunday’s presidential elections. At the end of the day, I contacted President-elect Yamandú Orsi to express Paraguay’s commitment to continue collaborating for the benefit of our nations,” Peña posted on Twitter, ten minutes after his Brazilian counterpart.

I congratulate the Uruguayan people for their massive participation in the presidential elections this Sunday. At the close of the day, I contacted the president-elect @OrsiYamanduto express Paraguay’s commitment to continue collaborating for the benefit of our…

— Santiago Pena (@HolyPeña) November 25, 2024

Chilean President Gabriel Boric said he had called the winner of the election and mentioned his vice-president, Caroline Cosse. “I just called and congratulated Yamandú Orsi on the victory in Uruguay. We talk about how to move forward together, as brotherly countries, in justice and unity. From Chile, all the best on this new path for Yamandú and the vice-president, Carolina Cosse!”, published the Chilean.

Unlike his Latin American colleagues, the president of Argentina, the ultraliberal Javier Milei, did not congratulate Orsi on his social media accounts. Milei preferred not to give in and used the official accounts of the Casa Rosada to recognize the victory of the Frente Amplio.

“The Argentine Republic congratulates the Uruguayan people on their exemplary civic journey and salutes the elected president Yamandú Orsi for his victory. We ratify our commitment to work together with Uruguay to strengthen the shared agenda and well-being of both countries”, published the official account of the Argentine Foreign Ministry.

The Argentine Republic congratulates the Uruguayan people for their exemplary civic day and salutes the elected president Yamandú Orsi for his victory.

We ratify our commitment to work together with Uruguay to strengthen the shared agenda and the well-being of both countries.

— Argentine Foreign Ministry 🇦🇷 (@Cancilleria_Ar) November 25, 2024

The new Uruguayan president was also greeted by Nicolás Maduro, Venezuelan head of state, who called for the reconstruction of diplomatic relations with Uruguay.

“I congratulate the Uruguayan people on the electoral journey held this #24Nov, where they elected Yamandú Orsí, to whom I wish and promise the greatest success. We are going to build a respectful and positive relationship, of cooperation and shared support between our countries”, published Maduro.

Under the Presidency of the current Uruguayan president, Luis Lacalle Pou, Venezuela and Uruguay broke off diplomatic relations. Lacalle Pou did not recognize Maduro’s electoral victory and indicated that the winner of the Venezuelan election was the opposition, with Edmundo González, shortly after Caracas demanded the withdrawal of the Uruguayan diplomatic corps from the Bolivarian country.

Further north of the continent, the leaders of Cuba and Mexico also congratulated the election of Yamandú Orsi. “The Broad Front returns to govern by the will of the Uruguayan people, which once again demonstrates its democratic and progressive vocation,” said Claudia Sheinbaum, from Mexico.

“We convey the congratulations of the people and government of #Cuba, to the elected President of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi, for the victory obtained in the November 24 elections. We express our desire to deepen bilateral and fraternal relations between the two countries”, published Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.