Third Term in office of the Frente Amplio in Uruguay: Electoral Supremacy of the Left and Perspectives of Institutional Reforms

Abstract

Uruguay has been characterized since 1985 as one of the most stable and consolidated democracies in Latin America, with a remarkable continuity of its main political parties. In this context, elections are pivotal moments for both the continuity of such characterization, and for possible alterations. This article reviews the electoral process of 2014 in Uruguay, under which the Frente Amplio won his third consecutive term in office. We analyze the main results of the three electoral instances (primaries, national elections, and runoff), highlighting the consequences on political parties and the patterns of continuity and change on the Uruguayan polity. Also, we characterize the new political landscape, projecting the expected consequences for party system, government, and possible reforms both on institutional and policy terms.