MONTEVIDEO, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Former Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez died Sunday at the age of 80 from lung cancer, his family confirmed.
"Today, at 3:00 a.m. (local time), while he was resting at home, accompanied by some family and friends, due to his illness, Tabare died," his son, Alvaro Vazquez, wrote early in the morning on Twitter.
"On behalf of the family, we want to thank all Uruguayans for the affection received by him over so many years," added Alvaro, a medical oncologist, who served as the family's spokesperson for the last few days.
Tabare Vazquez was the country's first left-wing president, representing the Broad Front, a position he held between 2005 and 2010 and then held for another term between 2015 and March 2020.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2019 and later began radiosurgery treatment for a malignant tumor in his right lung.