Topolansky becomes Uruguay's first female vice president

Lucia Topolansky, senator and wife of ex-President Jose Mujica, has become Uruguay's first female vice-president.

Ms Topolansky took over after the resignation of Jose Sendic amid corruption allegations. A former left-wing guerrilla like her husband, she escaped prison, spent 13 years in jail, and survived torture.

Uruguay has been led by the left-wing Frente Amplio party, which has promoted generous social welfare policies, since 2005.

Under the constitution, Mr Sendic, the former vice-president, should have been replaced by the senator with the most votes in the last elections.

That should have been Jose Mujica, the former president, who became popular across the world for giving away most of his salary and was dubbed "the world's poorest president".

However Mr Mujica is ineligible due to a prohibition on presidential re-election, so the senator next in line was his wife. Ms Topolansky will also head the Senate and the Uruguayan congress's general assembly.

UCJ, UNILORIN.