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Thousands of Uruguayans took to the streets in Montevideo to fire the former president Tabaré Vazquez (2005-2010 and 2015-2020), a prominent figure on the Latin American left who died this Sunday at the age of 80 suffering from lung cancer.
After about an hour of travel, the funeral procession who had left the center of the capital arrived at the cemetery of La Teja, the former president’s hometown.
There, Vázquez’s children carried the coffin covered with the national flag and then the family gathered around it, while a priest offered words of farewell.
After the brief tribute, he was buried with a final applause from his inner circle.
“With deep pain we communicate the death of our dear father (…) due to natural causes of his oncological disease“His sons Álvaro, Javier and Ignacio Vázquez had reported early in a statement.
The ex-president died around 3 am on Sunday, “while he was resting at home, accompanied by some family and friends,” said Álvaro Vázquez, an oncologist like his father, on Twitter.
President Luis Lacalle Pou, from the National Party (center-right), who received command from Vázquez on March 1, said in a tweet that his predecessor “faced his last battle with courage and serenity.”
“We had instances of personal and political dialogue that I value and will remember. He served his country and based on the effort he obtained important achievements. He was the President of the Uruguayans, “added the president, who decreed three days of national mourning.
Rain of Recognitions
Vázquez had been diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2019, when he was still president and just a month after losing his wife María Auxiliadora Delgado, with whom he shared more than 50 years.
“I want to be remembered as a serious and responsible president,” he said in his last public interview, for the program “El Legado”, on Channel 10, broadcast just a week ago.
Oncologist and former leader of the local soccer club Progreso, he was the first candidate of the left-wing coalition Wide Front (FA) to become the mayor of Montevideo in 1989, and to the presidency -after two failed attempts- in 2005, breaking with the hegemony of the traditional Colorado Party and National Party.
The FA highlighted “his example of political integrity and unwavering commitment to our country and the people, will drive us to continue his legacy.”
“I came here because he was the first leftist president in our country, (…) and because in 2004 he changed our lives and all of us, that is undeniable,” Paula Fabra, a 23-year-old history teacher, told AFP. one of dozens of people stationed outside the cemetery.
“As a person who was born in a poor neighborhood, he changed it with access to technology through Plan Ceibal,” added the young woman, evoking an emblematic program by Vázquez that gave laptops to primary and secondary school students of the public system .
Several leaders of the region highlighted their honesty and commitment to integration on social media.
Leaders fire him
Hispanic American leaders from across the political spectrum said goodbye to the former Uruguayan president on the networks this Sunday.
– “The death of my beloved Tabaré Vázquez causes me enormous pain,” said Argentine President AAlberto Fernandez On twitter. “True to his convictions, he put a hinge on allowing progressivism to come to the government of Uruguay. I add myself to the regret of those people who today mourn them and hug their loved ones ”.
– “Our heartfelt condolences to the family of former President Tabaré Vázquez and the Uruguayan people,” said the President of Paraguay, Mario Abdó Benítez. “I had the honor of forging a friendship with him during his presidency. He was a great person, a distinguished political leader, a promoter of regional integration. Rest in peace”.
– “We deeply regret the death of former Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez. A good, honest man of principle. Go to your family, friends, relatives and the Uruguayan people in general, our words of condolences, love and solidarity at this time, “said the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduroand Twitter.
– “Committed to his country, he governed with and for the citizens. His administration leaves an enormous legacy of rights and social policies in Uruguay ”, said the president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sanchez.
– “Heartfelt condolences to the relatives of Tabaré Vázquez, the people of Uruguay, the Frente Amplio and the government of that country for the death of the former Uruguayan president, a great friend of #Cuba,” wrote the Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez.
– “Great regret for the disappearance of a democratic leader and an open-minded politician,” wrote the former Uruguayan president Julio Maria Sanguinetti, from the Colorado Party (center-right), who also held power for two terms (1985-1990 and 1995-2000). “As Colorados we greet him with respect and solidarity for his entire family,” he added.
– “I am very sorry for the death of the former president of Uruguay Tabaré Vázquez,” said the Argentine vice president. Cristina Fernandez. His arrival to the presidency “helped to consolidate the ideal of the Great Homeland. My condolences to his family and friends, ”he added on Twitter.
– “I was lucky to enjoy the relationship with former president Tabaré Vázquez. A political gentleman left, an honest leader with common sense who strengthened ties with Argentina and Mercosur. My respect for his memory and my affection for his family and the Uruguayan people, ”said the former Argentine president. Mauricio Macri, whose management coincided with the last administration of Vázquez.
– The former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva He posted a photo that shows him with Vázquez, with the caption: “Today I lost a dear friend of mine and from Brazil.” “We were presidents at the same time and I only have good memories of their performance for the cooperation and integration of South America,” he added.
– “Our heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the Uruguayan people and with the family for the sensitive death of our brother and former president, Tabaré Vázquez, who always supported the democratic process in #Bolivia and condemned the coup,” said the former president of Bolivia Evo Morales.
– “A dear brother and teacher left, a deeply good human being. Uruguay and the Great Homeland are in mourning. Thank you Tabaré for everything and for so much. A big hug to your family. Until history always! ”, Wrote the ex-president of Ecuador Rafael Correa.
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