Opponent confesses defeat: Conservative Luis Lacalle Pou becomes new President of Uruguay

The opposition won the second round of the presidency in Uruguay. Even before the announcement of the official election results, the candidate of the ruling Left Party, Daniel Martínez, conceded his electoral defeat against Luis Lacalle Pou from the right-wing Nationalist party. "We welcome elected President Luis Lacalle Pou," Martínez wrote on Twitter.

Supporters of Lacalle Pou celebrated loudly in the capital Montevideo the election victory of the legal politician. With the electoral defeat of Martinez a 15-year reign of the Left Alliance Frente Amplio (broad front) comes to an end.

After the first projections Martínez had initially refused on Sunday to acknowledge his defeat. Lacalle Pou came to 48.71 percent of the votes, Martínez to 47.51 percent. The electoral commission had specified the gap between the candidates with 30,000 votes - and therefore too close to announce a definitive result.

The evolution of the law on the protection of human beings is not a matter of principle. It is the salutamos al presidente electo @LuisLacallePou, con quien mantendré una reunión mañana. Agradezco de corazón a quienes confiaro en nosotros con su voto.

Appointed in March

On Thursday, Martínez said the Sunday trend had not changed, and Lacalle Pou would become president. "We will continue to defend democracy with more force than ever," Martínez wrote on his electoral defeat. The National Party announced on Twitter: "Now it's our turn, let's celebrate Uruguay!"

After the first ballot Daniel Martínez had still led clearly, but missed the absolute majority. He had come to 38 percent of the votes, Lacalle Pou on 28.

The official election result should be announced on Thursday evening (local time), according to the electoral authority. Compared to his supporters, Lacalle Pou was confident that his election victory is confirmed.

Lacalle Pou is the son of former President Luis Alberto Lacalle. The 46-year-old is expected to launch the end of 15 years of left-wing governments in Uruguay, concluding a pact with right-wing and center-right parties in Congress following the parliamentary elections also held at the end of October.

The mandate of the current head of state Tabaré Vázquez ends on 1 March. The president is elected in Uruguay for five years.