Uruguayans turn left
The week's news at a glance.
Montevideo, Uruguay
Voters in Uruguay this week elected the first left-wing president in their country’s 170-year history. Dr. Tabare Vazquez, in his third bid for the presidency, won a fraction more than 50 percent of the vote, narrowly avoiding a runoff with his closest rival, a centrist who captured 34 percent. Many South Americans have soured on the free-market economic reforms the U.S. has encouraged in the region, blaming them for rising poverty and unemployment. Prior to the Uruguay vote, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, and Venezuela elected candidates promising to focus on social programs for the poor. “Hopefully our message has been heard,” one voter said. “We want change.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
What should you be stockpiling for 'World War Three'?
In the Spotlight Britons advised to prepare after the EU tells its citizens to have an emergency kit just in case
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Carnivore diet: why people are eating only meat
The Explainer 'Meatfluencers' are taking social media by storm but experts warn meat-only diets have health consequences
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published