Tabare Vazquez wins presidential vote

(31 Oct 2004)
1. Various of people counting votes
2. Police officer monitoring vote counting
3. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Tabare Vasquez, Presidential Candidate:
"I would like to thank sincerely Dr. (Jorge) Larranaga (presidential candidate for the National Party), his vice-presidential candidate and the rest of the National Party."
4. Vasquez addressing supporters from balcony
5. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Tabare Vasquez, Presidential Candidate:
"The transition begins tomorrow, or today, I don't what time it is right now. In the course of this week we are also going to set up working groups (to work) with the presidency of the republic. We are going to gather information to start the process, and in about 10 to 15 days we'll be reaching some kind of political accord (with opposition parties) and eventually the names of some (Cabinet) ministers."
6. Various of Vasquez supporters celebrating in street, waving flags of the Broad Front party
7. Supporters chanting, "Now they're gone and they're never coming back (referring to Vasquez's opponents)"
STORYLINE:
Tabare Vazquez, a cancer specialist and socialist opposition leader, won Uruguay's presidential election in an historic shift to the left, putting this Uruguay politically closer to many of its neighbours.
Vazquez claimed victory after exit polls showed he had won Sunday's race, outpacing two other candidates to trigger raucous street celebrations.
Thousands of Uruguayans thronged the streets, lingering through the night to the boom of fireworks and chants of "Viva, Tabare!"
Long caravans of his supporters drove through downtown Montevideo, honking horns and flashing the "V" for victory sign.
The victory adds Uruguay to a move that has seen leftist and centre-left leaders come to power in Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela over public disenchantment with financial turmoil and US-backed free-market economic policies.
Vazquez has promised moderate policies, with an emphasis on helping the country's poor.
He told reporters on Sunday night that he intends to implement policy and appoint his new government immediately.
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