The Ks get creamed, and so does the FA

My usual and determined stance of maintaining a absolute ignorance about political comings and goings in the region has been hard to sustain these past couple of days, when, to my horror, I have succumbed to excitement about the elections Sunday on both sides of the river.

Being more manageable and stable, the Uruguayan primary elections were not as momentous, no "life or death" feeling about them. Actually I had come to terms with what many feared would be the certain result of the November presidential elections, a victory by the left-wing coalition Frente Amplio, headed by former guerrilla Mujica. As repulsive as that feels to me (and to practically two thirds of the country, I would venture), in the end I don't feel Uruguay would descend into Chavez-Morales-Kirchner dementia, so frankly I was not so fired up by the primaries.

But the beating taken by the FA on Sunday and the surprisingly high turnout of voters for the Partido Nacional (the best, viable alternative for these elections, despite many shortcomings) were really inspiring. Suddenly my call months ago that the presidential election would be Lacalle vs Mujica, with Lacalle winning, does not seem so farfetched any longer.

And lastly, the poor, beaten Partido Colorado has found a viable leader for future elections at least. True, he's a son of Bordaberry, and that is hard to swallow for many, including yours truly. Plus, that whole Opus Dei thing is gag-inducing as well, but I'm sure that he will find a way to neutralize his religious fervor in order to win the vote of a secular country like Uruguay.

But the true joy this week has come from Argentina. The uber-enemies of Uruguay, Cristina and Nestor Kirchner, took a well deserved beating that has had us watching Argentine political talk shows on TV for days now. The reign has been broken, they lost their majorities in both chambers of Congress, new "presidentiables" have emerged both in the opposition as well as within their own party, and Nestor had to quit as party chairman. The humiliation could not have been greater, especially since they framed the mid-term congressional elections as a referendum on their performance.