Tabaré Vázquez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tabaré Vázquez
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Vázquez in 2017
|
|
| 39th and 41st President of Uruguay | |
| In office 1 March 2015 – 1 March 2020 |
|
| Vice President | Raúl Sendic (Mar 2015 – Sep 2017) Lucía Topolansky (Sep 2017 – Mar 2020) |
| Preceded by | José Mujica |
| Succeeded by | Luis Lacalle Pou |
| In office 1 March 2005 – 1 March 2010 |
|
| Vice President | Rodolfo Nin |
| Preceded by | Jorge Batlle |
| Succeeded by | José Mujica |
| President pro tempore of UNASUR | |
| In office 1 March 2015 – 23 April 2016 |
|
| Preceded by | José Mujica |
| Succeeded by | Luis Lacalle Pou |
| Intendant of Montevideo | |
| In office 5 May 1990 – 5 May 1994 |
|
| Preceded by | Eduardo Fabini Jiménez |
| Succeeded by | Tabaré González |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Tabaré Ramón Vázquez Rosas
17 January 1940 Montevideo, Uruguay |
| Died | 6 December 2020 (aged 80) Montevideo, Uruguay |
| Resting place | Cementerio de La Teja, Montevideo |
| Political party | Socialist |
| Other political affiliations |
Broad Front |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | University of the Republic |
| Signature |  |
Tabaré Ramón Vázquez Rosas (born 17 January 1940 – died 6 December 2020) was an important politician from Uruguay. He served as the President of Uruguay two times. His first term was from 2005 to 2010, and his second was from 2015 to 2020.
Before becoming president, Vázquez was a physician, specializing in treating cancer. He was a member of the Broad Front, a group of left-leaning political parties. He was the first president from a socialist party in Uruguay's history.
Vázquez also served as the Intendant of Montevideo from 1990 to 1994. This role is similar to being a mayor and governor for the city of Montevideo. He tried to become president twice before winning in 2004.
Who Was Tabaré Vázquez?
Early Life and Education
Tabaré Vázquez was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, on 17 January 1940. He was the fourth child of Héctor Vázquez and Elena Rosas. His family had roots in Spain, specifically from the region of Galicia.
He studied medicine at the University of the Republic and became a doctor specializing in oncology (cancer treatment) in 1972. Later, he received a special grant to continue his medical training in Paris, France.
From Football to Politics
Vázquez loved soccer. He was the president of the Club Progreso team from 1979 to 1989. This showed his leadership skills even before he entered national politics.
In 1990, he became the first Intendant of Montevideo from the Broad Front political group. He held this position until 1995. In this job, he acted as both the mayor of the city and the governor of the Montevideo area.
Vázquez ran for president in 1994 and 1999 but did not win those elections. However, he received many votes, showing his growing popularity. In 1996, he became the leader of the Broad Front, taking over from its long-time leader, Liber Seregni.
Tabaré Vázquez as President
First Term: 2005–2010
In the 2004 elections, Tabaré Vázquez won the presidency in the first round. He made history by becoming the first president of Uruguay who was not from the traditional National or Colorado parties. He was also the country's first socialist president.
During his first term, Vázquez focused on improving relationships with neighboring countries like Brazil and Argentina. He also worked to strengthen Uruguay's economy.
One of the big challenges during his first term was a disagreement with Argentina. This was about pulp mills being built on the Uruguayan side of the Uruguay River, which Argentina worried would cause pollution.
Vázquez was also the first Uruguayan president to visit New Zealand and South Korea. He worked to build connections with countries in Southeast Asia. He had good relations with the United States, even hosting U.S. President George W. Bush.
His government made economic changes that helped many people. Between 2005 and 2008, the minimum wage increased, and the number of people living in poverty and unemployment decreased significantly.
Popularity During First Term
Vázquez's approval ratings changed during his first term. While his government's popularity dropped at one point, his personal approval remained high. By the end of his first term, his approval rating reached 80%, which was very high.
Second Term: 2015–2020
The Constitution of Uruguay does not allow a president to run for office right after their term ends. So, Vázquez could not run in the 2009 election. José Mujica was elected president instead.
Vázquez ran for president again in 2014. He won the election in the second round, defeating Luis Lacalle Pou. He officially started his second term on 1 March 2015, taking over from José Mujica.
As president, he also served as the temporary leader of UNASUR, an organization of South American nations, until April 2016.
In 2017, his Vice President, Raúl Fernando Sendic, resigned. This event caused some challenges for Vázquez's government.
Personal Life and Legacy
Tabaré Vázquez married María Auxiliadora Delgado on 23 October 1964. They had three biological children and one adopted son. His wife passed away in July 2019.
In August 2019, President Vázquez shared that he had a lung condition that looked serious. Despite this, he planned to finish his presidential term, which ended on 1 March 2020. He later died from lung cancer on 6 December 2020, at the age of 80.
After his death, President Luis Lacalle Pou announced three days of national mourning. He praised Vázquez as an important scientist and a defender of human rights. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his funeral was a private event. However, thousands of people gathered in the streets to say goodbye as his funeral procession passed by.
Honors and Awards
Tabaré Vázquez received several important awards during his life:
- Order of Merit from Qatar (2007)
- Grand Collar of the National Order of San Lorenzo from Ecuador (2010)
- Medal of Military Merit from Uruguay (2011)
WHO Recognition for Tobacco Control
In 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) gave Vázquez a special award. This was to recognize his strong leadership in controlling tobacco use in Uruguay. Under his guidance, Uruguay put in place some of the strictest rules against smoking in the world.
Images for kids
-
Tabaré Vázquez's signature
See also
In Spanish: Tabaré Vázquez para niños
