Uruguay Presidential election/amnesty repeal.

[Jacobtm]

Today the "marathon" of Presidential elections begins in Latin America with Uruguay, which will also hold a referendum o repealing an amnesty law for those criminals who acted under the dictatorship of 1973-85.

[Platypus]

The best thing about the Uruguayan election is that Argentina called a national holiday for it.

Seriously.

(also, I'll miss Vasquez. Probably the best Uruguayan President for a century.)

[platypeanArchcow]

The leading candidate now seems pretty cool, at least if you believe the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8320229.stm

I don't know much about Vasquez though.

[Jacobtm]

With polls closed, it seems that turnout percentage was in the 80's, possibly higher. We should be hearing about preliminary results soon.

[ag]

Exit polls:

Factum

Frente Amplio 47%-49%
Partido Nacional 29%-31%
Partido Colorado 17%-18%
Partido Independiente 2%-3%

Equipo Mori (taking into account about 40% of actual votes counted):

FA 48.1%
PN 28.3%
PC 18.1%
PI 2.6%


Second round

[ag]

Both referenda (postal vote and amnesty repeal) seem to be failing.

[Vepres]

There is going to be a run-off between Senator Jose Mujica and Fmr. President Luis Alberto Lacalle.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8326728.stm

[Jacobtm]

The leftist frente amplio appears to have won narrow majorities in both houses of congress.

[minionofmidas]

The Colorados will be getting behind the Blancos in the runoff, of course. These are both conservative clientele parties, just run by different mafias.

[Nhoj]

It appears Mujica has won with more than 50% of the vote with Lacalle getting around 45%
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/lt_uruguay_elections

[minionofmidas]

Hooray.