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Right Rejected In Colombia, Left Leads Going Into Second Round In Uruguay

Above Photo: Center-left Claudia Lopez, 49, stood out in these elections after she won the capital Bogota with 35.2 percent of the votes. | Photo: Colombian National Registry

The outcome reveals the overwhelming defeat of the right-wing Democratic Center party led by former far-right president Alvaro Uribe.

The Colombian National Registry announced ​​​​​the results of the local and regional elections held Sunday with the center-left obtaining big wins across the country.

The outcome reveals the overwhelming defeat of the right-wing Democratic Center party led by former far-right president Alvaro Uribe. The party lost the main cities of Bogota, Cali, Barranquilla, Medellin, and Cucuta.

Center-left Claudia Lopez, 49, stood out in these elections after she won the capital Bogota with 35.2 percent of the votes. Lopez, a symbol of the fight against corruption in the South American country, becomes the first woman and the first openly gay candidate to be elected mayor of the country’s capital.

“Thanks to the young people, to the women and the families, like mine! Not only did we win but we’re changing history!” Lopez said in her twitter account.

While in the northwestern city of Turbaco, ex-FARC combattant Guillermo Torres, known as Julian Conrado, won the mayoral race with 50.2 of the votes.

We lost, I recognize defeat with humility.
Center-left Jorge Ivan Ospina in the city of Cali with 37.9 percent, right-wing Jairo Tomas Yañes won in Cucuta with 34.2 percent, and independent candidate Daniel Quintero with 38.2 percent in Medellin, which Uribe’s party historically stronghold.

In the most economically dynamic departments, the chosen governors are center-left Carlos Caicedo with 60.3 percent of the votes in Magdalena, centrist Anibal Gaviria with 35 percent in Antioquia, right-wing Elsa Noguera who obtained 66.3 percent in the Atlantic and right-wing Clara Roldan with 55.9 in the Valle del Cauca.

According to the Electoral Observation Movement, 208 cases of irregularities were recorded during the day, as well as the detention of 80 people who allegedly participated in corruption events.

The elections were beset by violence in more than a quarter of municipalities, the electoral mission observatory said.

Former left-wing guerrilla FARC, who became a political party in the historic 2016 peace accord that ended more than 50 years of armed rebellion, participated in elections for the second time.

Uruguay’s presidential candidate Daniel Martinez of Frente Amplio will face National Party’s candidate Luis Lacalle Pou. | Photo: Reuters

Some 2.7 million Uruguayans were summoned to vote this Sunday to choose their next president, vice-president, senators, and deputies of the Parliament.

The first results from validated exit polls indicate that there will be a second electoral round between the leftist Broad Front candidate Daniel Martinez and right-wing representative of the National Party Luis Lacalle Pou after Sunday’s elections.

According to various exit polls, the leftist Broad Front would reach around 37 to 40 percent of the votes while its contender the National Party would have around 30 percent, meaning an absolute majority over 50 percent would not be reached resulting in a runoff vote to be held on Nov. 24.

“We will continue to do everything to ensure stability and certainties. Uruguay has to continue growing, distributing wealth and being a land of justice,” Martinez said while acknowledging the Broad Front will face Lacalle in a second round.

While the security ‘Live without Fear’ referendum, presented by National Party’s Jorge Larraña, was rejected as it didn’t obtain more than 50 percent of the popular vote. The constitutional referendum wanted to change the law by allowing police night raids, the creation of a National Guard, and reducing rights for detainees.

Uruguay’s electoral body highlighted Sunday the high participation of the population as part of the general elections held in the South American country, with around 90 percent of people who have exercised their right to vote.

Speaking to local media, the President of the body, Jose Arocena, said that “the next truthful and objective information will be disclosed at the closure of the votes at 7:30 pm” (local time).

As for the complaints, Arocena explained that there are no serious accusations so far, however, in some cases there was a lack of lists or ballots for the “live without fear” campaign referendum, but it was attended by the corresponding Departmental Headquarters.

At least 2.7 million Uruguayans were summoned to vote this Sunday to elect the president, vice president, senators and deputies to Parliament, who will exercise their mandate during the period 2020-2025.

The Electoral Court, prior to the day, reiterated the call to citizens to exercise their right which is mandatory, those who did not attend the polls will face penalties.

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