Of all President José Mujica’s eye-catching interventions in the campaign leading up to general elections on 26 October the most surprising, and potentially the most damaging, came just days before the contest. On 21 October Mujica publicly took issue with the presidential candidate for his ruling left-wing Frente Amplio (FA) coalition, former president Tabaré Vázquez (2005-2010), over the marijuana law and his economic management. It is not the first time Mujica has aired his differences with Vázquez but to do so at such a pivotal point in the campaign in public exposed the divisions within the FA, which have become more marked as the elections have approached and Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou, the presidential candidate of the main opposition Partido Nacional (PN; Blancos), has grown into an increasingly formidable rival.End of preview - This article contains approximately 1052 words.
Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article
Not a Subscriber?
Choose from one of the following options