Published: May 14, 2025, 04:34 PM
Latin America is mourning the loss of one of its most beloved and unconventional leaders, José "Pepe" Mujica, the former president of Uruguay, who passed away at the age of 89 after a battle with cancer. Revered for his humility, progressive values, and simple lifestyle, Mujica was affectionately known as the “world’s poorest president.”
Mujica died months after announcing that his cancer, which was first diagnosed in his esophagus in May last year, had spread and that he would no longer pursue treatment. Uruguay’s current president, Yamandú Orsi, announced his passing with a heartfelt message calling Mujica a “comrade, guide and leader.” The government has declared three days of national mourning, and his body will lie in state at the legislative palace.
A former guerrilla fighter, Mujica spent 12 years in prison—much of it in solitary confinement—during Uruguay’s military dictatorship. Following his release, he helped found the Movement of Popular Participation (MPP) and entered politics. He was elected to congress in 1995, became a senator in 2000, and later served as agriculture minister. His presidency from 2010 to 2015 was marked by landmark reforms, including the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage, and recreational cannabis, turning Uruguay into one of Latin America’s most progressive nations.
Despite holding the country’s highest office, Mujica maintained a remarkably modest lifestyle. He donated most of his salary to charity, wore sandals to official functions, and lived in a small farmhouse on the outskirts of Montevideo with his wife, Lucia Topolansky, and their three-legged dog. His prized possession was an old 1987 Volkswagen Beetle.
Tributes have poured in from around the world. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum described him as “an example for Latin America and the world,” while Brazil’s President Lula da Silva praised Mujica’s “human greatness” and unifying vision. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he lived for “a better world,” and China recognized him as a “good friend of the Chinese people.”
Even in his final years, Mujica remained politically active, supporting Orsi’s successful campaign. Though critical of the authoritarian turn in some leftist governments, he remained a staunch advocate for social justice.
Known for his bluntness and philosophical reflections, Mujica once rejected the label of "poor," saying he lived a life of “austerity” by choice. “I need little to live,” he said in a 2012 interview.
Mujica requested to be buried on his farm, next to his beloved dog, far from the pomp of state funerals—a final act of simplicity from a man whose life was defined by it.
