URUGUAY’S left-wing opposition candidate Yamandu Orsi became the country’s new president as he defeated right-wing governing coalition candidate Alvaro Delgado in Sunday’s run-off election.

This is the latest rebuke to an incumbent party in a year of landmark elections worldwide.

With nearly all the votes counted, electoral officials reported that Mr Orsi won 49.8 per cent of the vote, ahead of Mr Delgado’s 45.9 per cent.

The rest cast blank votes or abstained in defiance of Uruguay’s enforced compulsory voting. Turnout in the nation with 2.7 million eligible voters reached almost 90 per cent.

“The country of liberty, equality and fraternity has triumphed once again,” Mr Orsi said to sprawling crowds of supporters that waved flags and shouted their support.

“I will be the president who calls for national dialogue again and again, who builds a more integrated society and country.”

Mr Delgado told supporters gathered at his own party’s headquarters in the capital of Montevideo: “With sadness, but without guilt, we can congratulate the winner. 

“But it’s one thing to lose the elections and another to be defeated. We are not defeated.”

Mr Orsi struck a conciliatory tone, vowing to unite the nation of 3.4 million people after such a tight vote.

“Let’s understand that there is another part of our country who have different feelings today,” he said. 

“These people will also have to help build a better country. We need them too.”

The opposition’s win was the latest sign of discontent with incumbent parties. In the many elections that took place during 2024, voters frustrated with the status quo have punished ruling parties from the United States and Britain to South Korea and Japan.

Despite Mr Orsi’s promise to lead a “new left” in Uruguay, his platform, a mix of market-friendly policies and welfare programmes, is unlikely to mean any radical changes in the country.

Mr Orsi takes office on March 1 2025.