Uruguayan VP Sendic resigns amid corruption allegations

Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Uruguayan Vice President Raúl Sendic announced his resignation to Congress amid allegations he misused public funds for his personal gain.

The 55-year-old tweeted on Saturday that he presented his resignation to the Broad Front, the ruling coalition. The left-wing coalition concluded that while he led the state-owned Ancap oil firm from 2009-13, he used company credit cards to make personal purchases, including clothing, jewelry and electronics.

Sendic has denied he did anything wrong.

The governing coalition selected Lucia Topolansky, the wife of former President Jose Mujica, to take Sendic's place as vice president.

Mujica warned that Sendic's resignation could jeopardize the ruling coalition if Sendic's Lista 711 Party splits from the coalition.