Uruguay’s first socialist president Tabare Vazquez dies aged 80

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”.

Centre-right president Luis Lacalle Pou, a former political opponent, wrote that Mr Vazquez “faced his final battle with courage and serenity. He served his country and obtained important achievements based on his efforts”.

“The country is in mourning,” he added, declaring three days of honours.

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.

Mr Vazquez had seemed open to that possibility before the vote: “I believe we have to alternate, people, parties. It’s always good to have a fresh mind, with another outlook, another will and another desire to do things.”

As president, he formed part of the “pink wave” of left-leaning governments that swept across Latin America and he quickly re-established diplomatic relations with Cuba.

But he also managed to maintain good relations with Republican US president George W Bush, sometimes to the frustration of his own backers.

The tall and trim son of an oil worker, Mr Vazquez was born in the working-class La Teja neighbourhood of Montevideo and went on to earn a medical degree.

Mr Vazquez often said that he chose to become an oncologist after his parents and a sister died from cancer, and he continued to practice one day a week during his term as Montevideo mayor and later during his first term as president.

During that first term, he championed some of the world’s strictest tobacco regulations.