America and the Elections in Uruguay

On November 29th the Republic of Uruguay will hold a run-off presidential election since no candidate had 50% of the votes needed for an immediate victory in the first election. The candidate for the party in power presently, a former member of the Tupamaros guerrillas received 48 percent of the votes, and former President Luis Alberto Lacalle of the National or White Party had 30 percent of the votes. If the opposition against former guerrilla José “Pepe”Mujica joins forces for the election of November 29th, when sectors that perhaps voted for him although with little enthusiasm might join the opposition, it is reasonably possible that Lacalle might win the run-off election. In any case, it is always good if the victory of the former guerrilla fighter is not an overwhelming one.

In spite of everything, Uruguay has a significant democratic tradition, although with painful parentheses determined by the Tupamaros who sowed pain and death along the republic. Moreover, a military dictatorship was established, with popular support, to confront the serious institutional crisis that had abducted their democracy and that had unleashed in the country events incompatible with the traditional spirit of Artigas’ homeland. After that unfortunate period with a non-democratic regime which, in a way, was necessary, the Uruguayans were able to restore their republican normality.

It is a fact that the people of Uruguay have a healthy civic and political formation which warrants the hope that in the election of November 29th former President Lacalle, a renowned democrat, might win. Or, in any event, that if Mujica should win, he would be aware if the significance of the minority that lost the election. In Uruguay usually the minority is respected by the majority that is in the government.

There are considerable reasons for this continental expectation regarding Uruguay, because covert communism is penetrating the governments in the region. Presently, the Republic of Honduras is fighting to maintain its sovereignty which is being threatened by the communists of the continent.