Lucia Topolansky takes office as Uruguay's first female vice president

[sandensea]

In a special session of Uruguay's General Assembly, Senator Lucía Topolansky was sworn in today as the nation's first female Vice President. She replaces Raúl Sendic, who resigned amid allegations of improper use of a state oil company (ANCAP) charge card.

Topolansky, 72, is the wife of former President José "Pepe" Mujica. Elected to the senate on the leftist Popular Participation Movement (MPP) ticket, she will be sworn in to the dual role of President of the Senate this Saturday.

The MPP, the largest group in the ruling Ample Front coalition, was established by onetime Tupamaros - a left-wing urban guerrilla group active in Uruguay in the 1960s and '70s. Both she and her husband were tortured during their time as unregistered detainees from 1972 until democracy was restored to Uruguay in 1985.

Topolansky will also serve as acting head of state while President Tabaré Vázquez travels to New York to attend next week's United Nations General Assembly.

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[niyad]

1. thank you for posting this.

[sandensea]

2. Sure! Glad you liked it.

I understand the right-wingers in Uruguay are apoplectic; but I doubt that'll faze her. She's one tough cookie.

[niyad]

3. awww, gee, got their boxers in a wad, do they? pooooooor babies!!

[fierywoman]

4. Like right wingers everywhere!

[sandensea]

5. True that - especially in Latin America.

Latin American women who feel they'd like to pursue a career in politics generally find it easy only if they're white and - above all - sold out to whatever dominant interests control the country.

Brazil's Dilma Rousseff and Argentina's Cristina Kirchner could tell you what happens if a woman is successful in politics - but fails to meet either criteria. Any mistakes are blown up out of all proportion, and it's basically trench warfare from day one.

Here's hoping Ms. Topolansky has an easier time than they did. She seems very grandmotherly, and that will certainly help her.

[fierywoman]

6. We in the US are not doing that much better with women in politics, are we?

[sandensea]

7. No doubt about it.