Uruguay’s first socialist president, Tabare Vazquez, a popular figure who was returned to office for a second term has died of cancer.
The 80-year-old oncologist, who dedicated much of his professional life to fighting the disease, announced last year that he had lung cancer. His family confirmed that he died on Sunday.
His son Alvaro, also a cancer specialist, sent a tweet thanking Uruguayans “for the kindness he received throughout so many years”.
Mr Vazquez shook up Uruguayan politics when he became president for the first time in 2005, peacefully ending 170 years of two-party dominance at the head of a Broad Front coalition of socialists, Christian Democrats, Communists and former guerrillas.
He promised changes that would “shake the roots of the trees”. But he governed as a relatively cautious moderate, avoiding the constitutional changes and polarisation that have caused upheaval in other South American nations.
His popularity on leaving office paved the way for the election of his successor, Jose Mujica, a former guerrilla.
Uruguay’s constitution forbids immediate re-election.
The two were among the leaders who helped the small country of nearly 3.4 million people become widely seen as an example of democracy in the region, calmly assuming and relinquishing power.
The Front held power for 15 years as the country’s economy grew and equality initially improved.
But in the second Vazquez administration, the economy softened, crime rose and vice president Raul Sendic was forced to resign over corruption allegations. The Front lost power after a runoff in last year’s election.
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