José Mujica, called world’s poorest president, dies in Uruguay at 89

MONTEVIDEO,— José “Pepe” Mujica, Uruguay’s former president who transformed from a guerrilla fighter into one of Latin America’s most recognized political figures, died at age 89, President Yamandú Orsi announced Monday.

Mujica, who led Uruguay from 2010 to 2015, was widely admired for his austere lifestyle and liberal policies. He earned the moniker “the world’s poorest president” for refusing luxuries, preferring instead to live on a small flower farm in the outskirts of Montevideo and drive his aging Volkswagen Beetle.

“We say goodbye to our comrade Pepe Mujica with deep sorrow,” Orsi said in a message posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Thank you for your commitment and for the love you gave to your people.”

During his presidency, Mujica advanced groundbreaking civil liberties legislation, including laws legalizing same-sex marriage and early-term abortion, as well as a pioneering move to regulate marijuana sales. At the time, the latter law made Uruguay one of the first countries to legalize cannabis nationally.

The changes marked a significant shift in a region where Catholic values strongly influence public policy. Mujica’s approach earned him respect far beyond Uruguay, with many viewing him as a symbol of integrity and progressive leadership.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva remembered Mujica as a statesman who stood for justice. “He was a tireless defender of democracy and equality,” Lula said. “His legacy goes beyond Uruguay’s borders.”

Born in 1935—though Mujica later claimed he was born in 1934—he grew up in what he described as “dignified poverty.” His father passed away during his childhood, and Mujica helped his mother raise chickens and grow flowers.

He started his political career in a progressive faction of the center-right National Party but later joined the Tupamaros, a Marxist guerrilla group, in the 1960s. The group carried out armed actions against Uruguay’s conservative government, including robberies and kidnappings.

Mujica was arrested multiple times and survived being shot six times in a gun battle. Following a 1973 military coup, he spent nearly 15 years in prison, much of it in solitary confinement. He escaped twice, once tunneling out of jail into a nearby house.

Upon Uruguay’s return to democracy in 1985, Mujica was released and re-entered politics. He became a key figure in the Broad Front, a left-leaning coalition, and served as minister of agriculture before being elected president.

Mujica won the presidency in 2009 with 52% of the vote, overcoming concerns about his radical past and age—he was 74 at the time. As president, he refused to live in the official residence and often appeared in public without a tie, eating at local diners among ordinary citizens.

“He never acted above anyone,” said Lucia Topolansky, Mujica’s wife and fellow former Tupamaro, who served as vice president from 2017 to 2020. The couple married in 2005 and were active in politics long after Mujica left office.

In a 2024 interview, Mujica said he still had his Beetle and that it was in “phenomenal” shape. But he preferred riding his tractor. “On the tractor, you have time to think,” he said.

He maintained his political influence by supporting leftist candidates and attending presidential inaugurations across Latin America. He and Topolansky stopped growing flowers but continued cultivating vegetables like tomatoes, which she pickled every season.

Critics questioned his disregard for formality and his unfiltered remarks, which sometimes sparked backlash. But many admired his authenticity and his belief in modesty and human dignity.

“The problem is the world is run by old people who forget they were young,” Mujica said in the 2024 interview. In his later years, he spoke candidly about aging, illness, and hope.

Diagnosed with cancer, Mujica reflected on life’s ups and downs. “Life is beautiful, but it wears you out,” he said. “The important thing is to start again every time you fall.”

(With files from Reuters)