Center-right candidate Luis Lacalle Pou (a business-friendly conservative) won Uruguay’s presidential election after his rival conceded, bringing an end to 15 years of leftist rule in the country.
Mr Lacalle Pou, a 46-year-old lawyer and a former senator, defeated Daniel Martinez (former mayor of Montevideo) in the runoff election after a recount of votes. The gap between the two candidates who were in the run-up was only 3,090 votes.
He plans to put more police in the streets as public safety has been eroding, but also wants to tackle the country’s high taxes rate and cost of living through austerity measures to reactivate the economy. He will take power on March 1st at the head of a right-wing coalition of 5 parties.
Uruguay should remain a bastion of peace and stability in a turbulent region.