塔瓦雷·巴斯克斯成为乌拉圭新总统

Tabare Vazquez, a 75-year-old oncologist, becomes Uruguay\'s new president Sunday; his second time in that office. He was Uruguay\'s president from 2005 to 2010. The South American country bars presidents from serving consecutive terms, which last five years.

Mr. Vazquez takes the leadership role of Uruguay from the highly popular Jose Mujica, a former guerilla fighter known for his humble lifestyle. Both President Mujica and President-elect Vazquez belong to the Broad Front Coalition, which has been in power for a decade.

Under Mr. Mujica, Uruguay legalized marijuana and the right to an abortion. Mr. Mujica\'s lifestyle includes living on a modest farm and driving an aging, weathered Volkswagen Beetle. His three-legged dog is his almost-constant companion.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called Mr. Vazquez Saturday to offer the president-elect congratulations on his upcoming inauguration.

Biden also expressed his regrets at having to cancel his trip to the inauguration, but told Mr. Vazquez that President Barack Obama was sending Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden and U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Michele Sison to attend the ceremony.

巴斯克斯的前任何塞·穆希卡非常受欢迎。他从前是游击队员，生活俭朴。这两位总统都来自“广泛阵线”。这个左翼政党执政已经连续10年。

在何塞·穆希卡任期内，乌拉圭实现了大麻和堕胎的合法化。他住在一个简陋的农场，开一辆老旧的大众甲壳虫汽车，他身边的伙伴是一只3条腿的狗。

美国副总统拜登周六与巴斯克斯通过电话，对他当选总统并即将上任表示祝贺。

他还对无法出席巴斯克斯的就职典礼表示遗憾，但表示奥巴马总统已派农业部副部长克里斯塔·哈登和美国驻联合国副代表米歇尔·西逊前往乌拉圭。