Socialist Uruguay Dawns; Vazquez Rule Tilts Policies toward Castro, Away from U.S

Byline: Kelly Hearn, SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES

COLONIA, Uruguay - In his opening weeks as Uruguay's first socialist president, Tabare Vazquez has mirrored the economic orthodoxy of his centrist predecessor while making populist political gestures, especially to labor unions and the poor.

Mr. Vazquez, 65, an oncologist, heads the leftist coalition Frente Amplio (Broad Front, in Spanish). He was sworn in March 1, ending 180 years of two-party rule.

His election in October produced an epidemic of euphoria in this town and throughout the tiny nation of more than 3 million. It also bolstered the so-called "pink tide" of leftist governments taking power in several Latin American nations disillusioned with U.S. policies and the Bush administration's preoccupation with war and terrorism.

Coalition widens role

The political groundswell that propelled Mr. Vazquez to the presidency spread his coalition's reach into rural provinces. This month, local elections catapulted Frente Amplio leaders to power in eight …

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Publication information: Article title: Socialist Uruguay Dawns; Vazquez Rule Tilts Policies toward Castro, Away from U.S. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: The Washington Times (Washington, DC). Publication date: May 24, 2005. Page number: A14. © 2009 The Washington Times LLC. COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group.

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