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Exit polls: Uruguay's presidential election goes to run-off | |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Exit polls in Uruguay say the candidate of President Jose Mujica's party has won most votes in the presidential election. | |
But Tabare Vazquez appears to have fallen short of the outright majority needed to avoid a second round. | |
Three polls predicted that Mr Vazquez of the Broad Front party will face Luis Lacalle Pou of the right-wing National Party next month. | |
President Mujica is barred from running for a second consecutive term. | |
Partial results are expected soon. | |
Three separate exit polls showed Mr Vazquez winning with 44-46% of votes and Mr Lacalle Pou trailing behind with 31-34%. | |
If no candidate obtains the 50.1% needed to avoid a second round, Uruguayans will choose between the two leading candidates on 30 November. | |
Tabare Vazquez served as president of Uruguay in 2005-2010 while Luis Lacalle Pou is the son of a former president. | |
Uruguayans were casting ballots for president, vice-president and members of parliament at the same time. The Broad Front could lose its current majority in Congress. | |
They were also voting in a controversial referendum on whether to lower the age at which a person can be criminally charged as an adult from 18 to 16. | |
Popular president | Popular president |
Mr Mujica remains popular after leading Uruguay through economy growth and wage rises, but he is barred by the constitution from running for a second consecutive term. | Mr Mujica remains popular after leading Uruguay through economy growth and wage rises, but he is barred by the constitution from running for a second consecutive term. |
His government was behind social reforms such as the legalisation of marijuana, abortion and gay marriage. | His government was behind social reforms such as the legalisation of marijuana, abortion and gay marriage. |
But critics say it has failed to deal with problems in education, security and environmental protection. | But critics say it has failed to deal with problems in education, security and environmental protection. |