José “Pepe” Mujica, the former president of Uruguay widely admired for his austere lifestyle and progressive policies, has died at the age of 89. His passing was announced by current President Yamandú Orsi, who paid tribute on social media: “Thank you for everything you gave us and for your deep love for your people.”
Mujica had been battling oesophageal cancer, though the exact cause of his death has not been officially disclosed.
From Guerrilla to President
Born in Montevideo, Mujica rose from a middle-class upbringing to become one of Latin America’s most respected and unconventional leaders. In the 1960s, he co-founded the Tupamaros National Liberation Movement (MLN-T), a leftist urban guerrilla group inspired by the Cuban Revolution. The group carried out armed actions including robberies and kidnappings against what they saw as an increasingly authoritarian Uruguayan government.
Mujica was captured four times, seriously wounded in a police shootout, and famously escaped prison twice, including once through a tunnel with over 100 other inmates. During the 1973 military dictatorship, he was held as one of nine hostages, subjected to extreme isolation and torture, spending over 14 years in prison.
He was released in 1985 after democracy was restored. He later said the happiest day of his life wasn’t becoming president, but being freed from prison.
A Political Life Rooted in Simplicity
In the years following his release, Mujica entered mainstream politics, serving as a lawmaker and later as Minister of Agriculture in Uruguay’s Frente Amplio leftist coalition. He became president in 2010 at age 74, joining a wave of left-leaning Latin American leaders at the time.
His presidency from 2010 to 2015 saw Uruguay legalize abortion, same-sex marriage, and become the first country to legalize recreational marijuana. Under his leadership, the economy grew at an average of 5.4% per year, and poverty and unemployment fell.
Despite overseeing an expansion in public spending — which led to fiscal criticism — Mujica remained immensely popular. He was never linked to corruption or democratic backsliding, in stark contrast to some of his regional counterparts.
The “Poorest President” — But Rich in Principles
Internationally, Mujica gained fame as the “world’s poorest president” — a label he disliked. He refused to live in the presidential mansion, opting instead for a modest farmhouse with his wife, Lucía Topolansky, also a former guerrilla and senator. He donated most of his salary to charity and was often seen driving a 1987 Volkswagen Beetle.
“They say I’m the poorest president. No, I’m not,” he once told the BBC. “Poor are those who want more […] because they’re in an endless race.”
A Legacy Beyond Politics
Mujica retired from politics in 2020, but remained a symbolic figure in Uruguay and abroad. His political group within Frente Amplio saw renewed success in 2024, with his protégé Yamandú Orsi becoming president.
In a BBC interview in late 2024, Mujica spoke openly about mortality: “One knows that death is inevitable. And perhaps it’s like the salt of life.”
José Mujica leaves behind a legacy of resilience, humility, and principled leadership. He inspired millions worldwide with a message that true wealth lies not in possessions, but in purpose.
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