Towards 1999, Mujica had become a major political phenomenon, due in part to his blunt style and his clarity. In the elections of that year, Mujica ran for the Senate and the turnout for the MPP was increased, giving the party two seats in the upper chamber. The growth in popularity continued so that in 2004 the MPP got six seats in the Senate, and contributed to the victory of presidential candidate Tabaré Vázquez who then became the first left-wing president of the country. During the Vázquez administration, several members of the MPP held key positions. Mujica was Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Eduardo Bonomi was Minister of Labor.