A history professor who belongs to the center-left, a former veterinarian who belongs to the right: the two opponents in the second round of the presidential elections which take place the day after tomorrow in Uruguay, a country of 3.4 million inhabitants, between Argentina and Brazil, have completely different profile.

Zamandu Orsi of the Wide Front (Frente Amplio, FA) is considered the political heir of one of the most important figures of the Uruguayan left, former president José “Pepe” Mujica.

Alvaro Delgado is the candidate of the National Party of the outgoing president Luis Lacaille Pou.

The two took the first two places in the 1st round on October 27, respectively with 43.9% and 26.8% of the votes.

Who is the centre-left professor?

Zamandu Ramon Antonio Orsi Martinez, 57, embodies the hope of the center-left alliance awaiting its return to power. The alliance governed for three consecutive presidential terms, from 2005 to 2020, with Tabare Vazquez (2005-2010 and 2015-2020) and José Mujica (2010-2015).

Modest, with relaxed clothing choices, Mr. Orsi is — like Jose Mujica — rooted in his place, educated in public school and committed to promoting equality of opportunity.

Born in a house in the countryside, in a house without electricity, he obtained in 1991 a history teacher’s degree and taught in various high schools in the central part of the country. In 2005, he was elected secretary general of the community of Canelones, a suburb of Montevideo, before being elected mayor in 2015 and re-elected in 2020.

He resigned from his office in the municipality to participate in June in the procedures of his party to nominate its candidate for the presidency. He prevailed with more than 60% of the vote over the former mayor of the capital Montevideo, although Carolina Cose had the support of the communists and the socialists.

Mrs. Kose is now a candidate for vice president.

As a child, Zamandou Orsi worked in the family shop and danced traditional dances. In 1989, at the age of 22, he became a member of the “Movement for Popular Participation” founded by “Pepe” Mujica. He admits he has been preparing to run for the presidency for “a while” but has not revealed what his vision for the country is and has been criticized for refusing to debate opponents or give interviews at all during the campaign.

He is the father of two children, 11-year-old twins, born after his second marriage.

The conservative, right-wing vet

Uruguay

Born in a well-to-do suburb of the capital, Álvaro Luis Delgado Cerreta, 55, studied at private Catholic educational institutions and professes to be religious. He got married in 1997 and has three grown children.

He became a potential candidate for the top office in the country during the novel coronavirus pandemic. General secretary of the presidency in 2020, after the election of his “friend” Louis Lacaille Pou, he also assumed government representative, multiplying his television appearances.

He entered politics in the ranks of the National Party in Paisadu County (South), where his mother’s family hails from. He was the party’s caucus coordinator from 1994, before being named inspector-general of labor in 1999.

He was elected in 2004 and then in 2009 as a member of parliament in the electoral district of the capital Montevideo. Then, Mr. Delgado became a senator in 2014.

Before entering politics, the graduate of the capital’s veterinary school had worked as a veterinary consultant for various companies.

During the election campaign he was heavily criticized, described by a “caveman” as “vulgar”, because he called his vice-presidential candidate, Valeria Ripoll, a “candy”. It was a “mistake,” an “unfortunate joke,” he later acknowledged.