Former Uruguayan President José “Pepe” Mujica has died at the age of 89 after a battle with cancer.
Known globally for his austere lifestyle and humility, Mujica served as Uruguay’s president from 2010 to 2015 and gained fame as the “world’s poorest president” for donating most of his salary to charity and living on a modest farm with his wife and three-legged dog.
Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi confirmed Mujica’s death, calling him a “comrade, guide, and leader.”
Tributes poured in from across Latin America and Europe, with leaders praising his humility, wisdom, and revolutionary spirit. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum called him an “example for Latin America and the world.”
A former guerrilla fighter, Mujica co-founded the Tupamaros National Liberation Movement in the 1960s and spent over 14 years in prison under brutal conditions during Uruguay’s military dictatorship. He endured torture, isolation, and near death but later emerged as a prominent leftist leader.
After democracy was restored in 1985, Mujica transitioned into mainstream politics, serving as a lawmaker and minister before winning the presidency at 74. Though aligned with Latin America’s leftist wave, he was known for his pragmatism and independent style of governance.
Despite his rise to power, Mujica remained grounded. He refused to live in the presidential mansion and continued to embrace a life of simplicity.
Reflecting on his life, he once said, “Becoming president was insignificant compared to the day I was freed from prison.”
