José Mujica Dies at 89 – The former president of Uruguay has passed away at the age of 89. He was widely known as the “world’s poorest president” due to his simple lifestyle and modest way of living. Mujica, also known by his nickname “Pepe,” served as Uruguay’s president from 2010 to 2015.
His death was confirmed by current President Yamandú Orsi in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Orsi wrote, “Thank you for everything you gave us and for the deep love you had for our people.” The exact cause of death was not announced, but Mujica had been battling cancer in his food pipe.
José Mujica was not just a political leader—he was a symbol of humility. He lived on a small farm, drove a beat-up Volkswagen Beetle, and donated most of his salary to charity. His simple life and strong views against greed made him famous not just in Latin America but all over the world.
Born into a middle-class family in Montevideo, Mujica was raised by his mother. He often said that he got his love for politics, reading, and farming from her. In his early years, he joined Uruguay’s National Party. Later, this same party became his political opponent.
In the 1960s, Mujica became one of the leaders of a left-wing rebel group called the Tupamaros. This group carried out armed actions against the government, including robberies and kidnappings. Mujica always said he never killed anyone during this time. The group was inspired by the Cuban revolution and wanted to fight what they saw as rising dictatorship in Uruguay.
Mujica was arrested four times. In 1970, he was shot six times during an operation and barely survived. He escaped prison twice. One of those times, he and 105 others broke out through a tunnel. It was one of the biggest prison breaks in Uruguay’s history.
After a military coup in 1973, the army took Mujica as one of nine special hostages. They said they would kill these nine if the rebels attacked again. He spent over 14 years in prison, often in very harsh conditions. Most of that time, he was alone. He was freed in 1985 when democracy returned to Uruguay.
Mujica later said that long time in prison affected his mind. He spoke of talking to ants to keep himself sane. He called the day of his release the happiest day of his life.
After his release, Mujica returned to politics. He served in both the lower and upper houses of Uruguay’s parliament. In 2005, he became a cabinet minister in a left-wing government. In 2010, at the age of 74, he became the president.
At first, he wasn’t well-known outside Uruguay. But his humble ways soon caught the world’s attention. He became as well-known as leaders like Brazil’s Lula da Silva and Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez. Still, many experts said Mujica led the country in his own unique way.
During his time in office, Uruguay’s economy grew by over 5% each year. Unemployment fell, and he ended his term with a 70% approval rating. He was later elected to the Senate and spent some time traveling the world.
Before leaving office, Mujica said, “Why is the world so surprised? I live with little, in a small house, with an old car. What’s so crazy about that?”
He retired from politics in 2020 but stayed an important voice in the country. Last year, he said he had cancer and knew his time was short. In his final interview with the BBC, he said, “Death is part of life. Maybe it’s like salt in a meal—something that makes life complete.”
