He Wide Front is already fully in campaign for the presidential election which will take place in October in Uruguay, with its four candidates officially launched in their respective campaigns; but, first, he will have to overcome the party internal exams that will take place in June. In this context, there is no shortage of absurdities, as well as the attempt to, despite everything, show unity in the left-wing coalition.
Since this afternoon, the Wide Front will celebrate with an event at legislative Palace 53 years since the first major act that the left coalition had as such. The objective will be to show not only a large turnout – which translates into a flow of votes – but also the unity of the pre-candidates and leaders at a time crossed by several issues that strain the political space in a campaign climate that, before confronting them with the ruling party, makes them competitors among themselves.
In this context, the closing of the event is striking, which, unlike other occasions, does not have a previously structured speech agenda, at least for the public. After watching the friendly of the National Team against Ivory Coast on giant screen in Plaza Francisco Araucho, from 4:30 p.m. and the show The Ventolerafrom 6:30 p.m., the four pre-candidates and the president of the Front, Fernando Pereira, They will speak as usual. However, the order, generally closed by Yamandu Orsi and Carolina Cosse —those who are better positioned internally according to all the surveys, in a strongly polarized election— seems different: the announcement puts Mario Bergara in front, followed by Orsi and Cosse, to close with Andres Lima and Pereira.
The order in communication does not seem to be minor or casual, but rather an attempt to try to please the minor candidates of the Wide Front facing a campaign that, clearly, will be unfavorable for them given the polarization between the former mayor of cannelloni and the mayor in use of a license Montevideo. A scenario that Senator Bergara himself publicly recognized not only as a reality, but as a disadvantage for the other candidates.
The “gesture” also occurs in the midst of growing pressure for the pre-candidate of Progressive Seregnista Call desist from your participation in the internal, even from within your political space. As an example, the groups “Magnolia” and “Platform” They already announced their support for Orsi; but Bergara remains firm in his pre-candidacy, thinking mainly about the formation of the parliamentary list.
The mayor of Salto, Andrés Lima, He is the other who could feel left out since his name is rarely remembered in the projection of electoral scenarios; There are not even requests—at least, clearly public ones—for him to step aside, as is the case with the former president of the Central bank.
In fact, during the launch of his pre-candidacy campaign, both the leaders of the Front and the other three pre-candidates were conspicuous by their absence. A significant fact, considering that this was not the case during the launch events of either Orsi, Cosse or Bergara.
The photo of the unit
As if this campaign climate were not enough, external events also contribute to the disagreements within the left coalition. In this regard, Cosse referred to the robbery of a committee of the Wide Front in Shangrila, Canelones, on Monday night, when there were militants inside. The assailants were armed and took the belongings of those present, as well as valuable objects inside the premises. “All my solidarity with those who suffered such a violent episode,” expressed the candidate.
With this recent episode as a backdrop, along with the discontent among the pre-candidates, today the Wide Front The first unit photo will be taken after another event that shook the inmate: the complaint for an alleged attack against Orsi.
Although the left coalition quickly released a statement in defense and support of the former mayor of Canelones prior to the presentation of the criminal complaint, and that some like Cosse publicly adhered to the majority position – with the exception of waiting for the determinations of Justice – , the paths of the four pre-candidates have not crossed since then due to the change in the date of the Expoactiva and the miss in Lima’s launch.
The photo can be, on the one hand, a positive signal to the electorate, demonstrating the unity of the Front despite the difficulties; but it can also be a risk for internal competitors, especially for Cosse. Although Orsi considers that the “false” complaint and part of a “dirty campaign” will not affect the expected flow of votes, the truth is that the future of the investigation can have negative impacts not only on his image, but also on that of his companions.
Despite this, the photo will be.
Source: Ambito
