Former Uruguayan President José Mujica Dies
Legendary former Uruguayan president José Mujica has died. Mujica was previously diagnosed with esophageal cancer.
Legendary former Uruguayan president José Mujica has succumbed to cancer. The iconic figure of the Latin American left, Mujica, known as the “poorest president in the world,” has died at the age of 89.
José Mujica announced in April 2024 that he was diagnosed with cancer in his esophagus. Mujica, also known as Pepe, announced on January 10, 2025 that he was rejecting further treatment, saying, “I am an old person and I have two chronic diseases. My body cannot tolerate biochemical treatment or surgery.”
Pepe had announced that he wanted to be buried under the sequoia tree on the farm, next to his dog Manuela.
"To be honest, I'm dying. I want them to leave me alone," the legendary leader said in his last interview with Búsqueda magazine.
"I want to say goodbye to my citizens," Mujica said in a tearful interview, adding that he would spend the rest of his time at his ranch outside Montevideo.
José “Pepe” Mujica was born on May 20, 1935, in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. He was the son of a Basque farmer father and an Italian immigrant mother. He lost his father when he was five years old. He participated in bicycle races in his youth. He competed in various clubs between the ages of 13 and 17. He had his first political experience in the National Party and worked closely with Enrique Erro.
In the mid-1960s, he made a life-changing decision to join the Tupamaros guerrilla movement inspired by the Cuban Revolution. In 1969, he led one of six teams in the brief occupation of the town of Pando near Montevideo, successfully capturing the telephone exchange. In March 1970, while resisting arrest in a Montevideo bar, he wounded two police officers and was himself shot six times. He survived thanks to the intervention of the surgeon on duty.
Mujica was captured four times and escaped from prison twice. His most dramatic escape was in September 1971 from Punta Carretas Prison, where he and over 100 other Tupamaros members dug a tunnel under the prison. Following his final capture, he was held under special surveillance with eight other Tupamaros members during the military coup. He spent 13 years in captivity, two of which were spent at the bottom of an old horse trough. During this period, he suffered from serious psychological problems, including auditory hallucinations and paranoia.
He was released in 1985 when democracy was restored in Uruguay. He founded the Popular Participation Movement with Tupamaros members and transitioned to legal politics. He became a deputy in 1994 and a senator in 1999. He served as Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries between 2005 and 2008. He finished the 2009 presidential elections ahead with 48 percent of the vote in the first round and won with 52 percent in the second round.
His reformist presidency from 2010 to 2015 transformed Uruguay into one of the most liberal and democratic countries in Latin America. His most important reforms included:
- Legalization of abortion
- Recognition of same-sex marriage
- Legalization of marijuana under state control
- Increasing social spending
- Strengthening labor unions
- Reducing the poverty rate from 18 percent to 9.7 percent
- Doubling the minimum wage
His modest lifestyle during his presidency garnered worldwide attention. He donated 90 percent of his $12,000 salary to charity, lived in a ranch house instead of the presidential palace, and continued to drive his 1987 Volkswagen.
He received an offer of $1 million for this vehicle, but refused to sell it.
Mujica holds a unique position in Latin American politics. Unlike other left-wing leaders, he focused on pragmatic solutions rather than ideological rhetoric. During his presidency, he transformed Uruguay into one of the most stable democracies in the region. The country achieved its lowest poverty rate and highest per capita income during his term.
Even in his last interview where he revealed his illness, Mujica did not neglect to give social messages: “It is easy to agree with those who think differently than you, but the basis of democracy is learning to respect those who think differently.”
Described by TIME magazine as “the world’s poorest president,” Mujica has become a global inspiration. His UN speeches have gone viral, and his outlook on life and his philosophical approach have resonated around the world. His criticisms of consumer society and materialism in particular have attracted great interest among younger generations.
Mujica and his wife Lucia Topolansky had no children. However, they are leaving their political movement as a legacy for future generations. Their decision to donate their farm to their political movement is an indication of their desire to leave a spiritual legacy rather than a material one. Mujica, who recently bought a new tractor for the farm for $28,000, said, “I am leaving new iron to future generations.”
One of Mujica’s latest political victories was the victory of his supporter, Yamandú Orsi, in the Uruguayan elections in November 2024. Orsi will take office on March 1.
Mujica's party, the Popular Participation Movement (MPP), also won a historic vote share and will have significant parliamentary power in the new term.
Mujica emphasized that he has withdrawn from politics completely, saying, "Political decisions are no longer made on my farm. I help as much as I can on issues that I sympathize with, but I am not an old advisor who needs permission."
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