Yamandu Orsi is the future president of Uruguay, but who is he? Orsi is a left-wing political leader, he was the Broad Front’s candidate for presidency in the 2024 election; during which he successfully secured 49.8 percent of the votes, beating Alvaro Delgado by more than 3 percentage points. Orsi was born in 1967 in the rural area of the Canelones department. His father was a vineyard farmer and his mother was a seamstress. He was taught to read and write by his sister while living in the countryside.
A young Yamandu Orsi began to shape his political views and hopes/desires for the future while in the middle of the dictatorship in Uruguay. The dictatorship which lasted a decade during the years 1973 to 1983. After the end of that time period, Orsi joined the popular participation movement, which was at the time led by Jose Mujica. Jose Mujica would later go on to be president of Uruguay in 2010, and Jose Mujica also helped Yamandu Orsi in his own presidential campaign. He is seen as a protege of former President Jose Mujica, who won the hearts of many through his humble lifestyle. Similarly to Mujica, Orsi also comes from a humble background, since he grew up in rural Uruguay.
The former history teacher’s victory marks the return of a center-left government after 5 years of a conservative administration. Orsi has said he wants to usher in “a modern left” to tackle the issues of homelessness, poverty and crime. These issues were seen as a key concern for Uruguayan voters. Homicide rates in the country have increased sharply in recent years, and although the poverty rate in Uruguay has dropped to pre-COVID levels this year, charities say it continues to affect Uruguayan children disproportionately. Orsi has previously successfully attracted international firms such as Google as mayor of Canelones. Yamandu Orsi has said that he plans to spur faster growth and he also plans to avoid tax hikes, despite a growing deficit.
Yamandu Orsi has stressed that he wants to be a president for all 3.4 million Uruguayans, saying he would “call for dialogue again and again”, this means that he will listen to and help every person in Uruguay, without discrimination. He had said that he will listen to those who have voted against him and for his rival, this once again stresses the idea that Yamandu Orsi seeks to be a president for all people. Orsi wants to be the president who build a more integrated community, where people will set aside their differences and no one will be left behind.. Outgoing President Luis Lacalle Pou said he would work with Yamandu Orsi to support and ensure a smooth transition ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the new president, which will be on March 1 next year.
Written by Julia Dos Santos
