Blunt Leftist Ex-Rebel Sworn In as
AFP March 1, 2010
Jose Mujica, who decades ago served time in prison for
taking up arms against
sworn in Monday as his country's new president.
The former radical leftist guerrilla fighter is now a
mellower but still-feisty senior citizen who grows
flowers at his ranch and calls himself a pan-theist.
Colorful and charismatic in contrast to respected
outgoing fellow leftist president Tabare Vazquez,
Mujica is known for his willingness for dialogue.
A straight talker, Mujica has a reputation for being
able to win over even political foes and business
interests.
Before Monday's swearing-in ceremony, Mujica joked to
reporters that "today is a little bit of heaven, but
there will be plenty of purgatory tomorrow."
His inauguration was attended by top-level guests,
including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and
"We genuinely want to achieve an end to poverty" and
"for people to have jobs," Mujica said after his
inauguration, adding: "None of that can be achieved in
this country just by making noise."
"We are calling for transformation, and genuine
progress," he said, after riding to
with Vice President Danilo Astori in a Chinese-made car
outfitted by Uruguayan mechanics with an electric
motor.
The pair walked the last few blocks to the swearing in
together, delighting thousands who cheered "Let's go,
Pepe (nickname for Jose), Pepe's with the people."
"It's the second time (I am here) to see the peaceful
transfer of power and to have visited both the
president (Vazquez), the president-elect (Mujica) and
pledged strong partnership based on mutual respect and
mutual interest. We are going to continue to work close
together,"
Also on hand to witness the ceremony were regional
counterparts Presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of
with his Ecuadoran counterpart Rafael Correa, Fernando
Mujica has become the second former Latin American
rebel to be elected president recently, after
He has said he models himself on popular Brazilian
president Lula, a left-leaning former labor activist
who is known for a centrist approach.
The new
leftist Tupamaros movement back in the 1960s, and when
jailed took part in a huge prison break.
But the more mature Mujica is largely a product of his
years as a lawmaker which he says taught him to
"embrace serpents" if necessary to get a deal done.
The ex-rebel chose pragmatic former finance minister,
Danilo Astori, as his running mate and the pair pledged
to continue the economic policies of Vazquez.
Mujica's wife, Lucia Topolansky, also a former rebel
and now a senator, will be third in line to the
presidency due to her legislative post.
Mujica has said he will not move to the presidential
palace, instead choosing to stay at his small ranch in
Rincon del Cerro.
He also is putting most of his salary into a fund for
homeless Uruguayans.
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