Uruguay’s Ex-President José Mujica Dies
José Mujica, the former president of Uruguay and a prominent ex-guerrilla fighter, has passed away at the age of 89. Widely known as the world’s “poorest president,” Mujica gained global recognition for his humble lifestyle and rejection of material wealth.
Mujica governed Uruguay from 2010 to 2015 and became an international symbol of integrity and simplicity. His death was announced by current President Yamandú Orsi via a post on X, stating: “Thank you for everything you gave us and for your deep love for your people.”
While the exact cause of death has not been disclosed, Mujica had been battling esophageal cancer in recent years.
Renowned for his ascetic way of life, his outspoken criticism of consumerism, and his bold progressive reforms-including making Uruguay the first country to legalize recreational marijuana—Mujica emerged as a widely respected political figure across Latin America and beyond.
Despite Uruguay’s small population of 3.4 million, Mujica’s popularity extended far beyond its borders. His legacy, however, has not been without controversy within the country.
Although many viewed him as an outsider to traditional politics, Mujica had a long-standing political background. He often credited his mother—who raised him in a middle-class household in Montevideo-with instilling in him a love for books, farming, and public service.
Early in his political journey, Mujica was affiliated with the National Party, one of Uruguay’s historic political movements, which later positioned itself in opposition to his presidency.
In the 1960s, Mujica co-founded the Tupamaros National Liberation Movement (MLN-T), a leftist urban guerrilla group inspired by the Cuban Revolution. The group engaged in armed resistance, including robberies, kidnappings, and political attacks. Mujica consistently maintained that he personally never committed murder.
During the dictatorship years, Mujica was captured four times. In one instance, in 1970, he was shot six times and narrowly survived.
