Uruguay’s leftist opposition candidate, Yamandú Orsi, became the country's new president in a tight runoff election that ousted the conservative governing coalition.

Uruguay's next president is a former history teacher who swapped the classroom for local government -- and will now lead the nation of 3.4 million following his Sunday win at the polls.Orsi taught history in high school until 2005,

Mr. Delgado’s concession signaled an end to the short stint of the right-leaning government in Uruguay that in 2020, when President Luis Lacalle Pou took office, ended 15 years of government by the Broad Front. During that period, the Broad Front oversaw the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and the sale of marijuana.

The candidate for the ruling center-right government, Alvaro Delgado, conceded defeat to his left-wing rival Yamandu Orsi following a tight race. Orsi is a political heir to former leftist President Jose Mujica.

The presidential candidate of the conservative coalition that has governed Uruguay for the past five years has conceded defeat after a close runoff election even as the vote count continued

The runoff election in South America's laid-back Uruguay, known for its beaches, legalized marijuana and stability, saw opposition center-left candidate Yamandu Orsi take on continuity conservative runner, Alvaro Delgado, who had the backing of a third-placed ally.

Centre-left candidate Yamandú Orsi has won Uruguay’s presidential elections against his centre-right rival, promising moderate change in one of Latin America’s wealthiest and most stable countries. Uruguay ’s electoral authority said Orsi of the Frente Amplio coalition had won 49.