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Tabare Vazquez wins Uruguay's run-off election | Tabare Vazquez wins Uruguay's run-off election |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Uruguay's leftist candidate Tabare Vazquez has easily beaten rival Luis Lacalle Pou in a presidential run-off. | |
Final results gave Mr Vazquez, from the ruling Broad Party, 52.8%, compared with 41% for Mr Lacalle Pou, of the right-wing National Party. | |
Mr Vazquez, 74, is a cancer doctor who served as president from 2005-10. | |
He won the first round of voting in October with more than 46% of the vote but it was not enough for an outright majority. | |
Incumbent President Jose Mujica was barred by the constitution from running for a second consecutive term. | |
'Big shoes to fill' | 'Big shoes to fill' |
Speaking late on Sunday, Mr Vazquez called on the opposition to join him in a national accord to tackle the key issues the country was facing. | Speaking late on Sunday, Mr Vazquez called on the opposition to join him in a national accord to tackle the key issues the country was facing. |
"I want to be able to count on all Uruguayans, but not so that they follow me but so that they guide me, accompany me," he said. | "I want to be able to count on all Uruguayans, but not so that they follow me but so that they guide me, accompany me," he said. |
In the capital Montevideo, thousands of his cheering supporters poured into the streets to celebrate. | In the capital Montevideo, thousands of his cheering supporters poured into the streets to celebrate. |
Mr Vazquez has pledged to boost social spending and keep the economy in its current good shape. | |
He also wants to reform the education system and fight crime - two of the weakest points of Mr Mujica's government, the BBC's Ignacio de los Reyes in Montevideo reports. | He also wants to reform the education system and fight crime - two of the weakest points of Mr Mujica's government, the BBC's Ignacio de los Reyes in Montevideo reports. |
Mr Mujica, who is also a member of the Broad Party, remains popular for leading the country through a period of economic growth and introducing social reforms such as legalisation of marijuana, abortion and gay marriage. | Mr Mujica, who is also a member of the Broad Party, remains popular for leading the country through a period of economic growth and introducing social reforms such as legalisation of marijuana, abortion and gay marriage. |
Mr Mujica refused to live in a palace when he became president four years ago and instead he stayed at his humble farm in the outskirts of Montevideo, where he grows his own vegetables. | Mr Mujica refused to live in a palace when he became president four years ago and instead he stayed at his humble farm in the outskirts of Montevideo, where he grows his own vegetables. |
His down-to-earth style has put Uruguay in the international spotlight and his shoes will be hard to fill, our correspondent says. | His down-to-earth style has put Uruguay in the international spotlight and his shoes will be hard to fill, our correspondent says. |