MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mujica absent from CFK inauguration following on doctors advice

First Lady Senator Lucia Topolansky will represent Mujica

Uruguayan President José Mujica, 76, announced he would not be attending President Cristina Fernández inauguration ceremony on Saturday after his doctor recommended he should rest for the next few days. His wife, First Lady and Senator Lucía Topolansky will be attending instead.

The announcement came through the Uruguayan ambassador in Buenos Aires Guillermo Pomi, who explained Mujica contacted Cristina Fernández to let her know of his absence.

Mujica has had an active schedule lately, attending several international events including his visit to the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CLACS) summit, so his personal doctors recommended he should slow down for a while.

He is also scheduled to host this month the next bi-annual Mercosur summit, where he will meet with Cristina Fernández. On the occasion the Mercosur rotating chair will be handed to Argentina.

Except for Mujica, most of the other South American presidents have confirmed their attendance to the presidential inauguration ceremony, among them Dilma Roussef (Brazil), Hugo Chávez (Venezuela), Sebastián Piñera (Chile), Juan Manuel Santos (Colombia), Fernando Lugo (Paraguay) and Evo Morales (Bolivia).