Uruguay’s governing party concedes presidential run-off to left-wing challenger

Yamandu Orsi, candidate for the Broad Front (Frente Amplio) and running mate Carolina Cosse celebrate after polls closed in the presidential run-off election in Montevideo (AP/Natacha Pisarenko)

The presidential candidate of the conservative coalition that has governed Uruguay for the past five years conceded defeat on Sunday after a close run-off election even as the vote count continued.

Alvaro Delgado, the centre-right government’s candidate, told his supporters at his campaign headquarters that “with sadness, but without guilt, we can congratulate the winner”, referring to left-wing challenger Yamandu Orsi.