Oct 25, V7N-In Uruguay’s upcoming presidential election, three main candidates are competing, each representing different ideologies in a campaign primarily focused on security and pension reform. Leading the race is Yamandu Orsi, a history professor from the center-left Broad Front (Frente Amplio), a party known for its liberal reforms under former president José "Pepe" Mujica. Orsi, 57, is campaigning as a "man of the people" with a background in rural poverty.

Second in the polls is Alvaro Delgado, a conservative veterinarian from the National Party and a close ally of outgoing President Luis Lacalle Pou. Delgado, 55, has appealed to rural voters by emphasizing his traditional roots and support for the incumbent’s crime and economic reforms.

In third is the 40-year-old Colorado Party candidate, Andrés Ojeda, a TV pundit and bodybuilding enthusiast who has gained attention for his gym-centered campaign ads and for drawing comparisons to Argentina’s libertarian president, Javier Milei.

The election will also feature a referendum on lowering the minimum retirement age from 65 to 60, a proposal pushed by the PIT-CNT union, which has sparked debates over its potential fiscal impact. Additionally, a second plebiscite will ask voters if police should be granted the power to conduct nighttime raids to combat drug trafficking, though this measure is expected to be rejected.

With no candidate likely to secure a first-round victory, a runoff is anticipated for November 24. While Uruguay remains a stable and liberal democracy, public concerns over crime and economic issues signal a desire for change among voters.

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