Joseph “Pepe” Mujica em 2023
“A warrior has the right to rest.” The former president of Uruguay, loved by many, contested by others, began to steal to the rich to give the poor and refused to live in the presidential palace. One of the most respected leaders in South America died on Tuesday at the age of 89.
The former president of Uruguay, José “Pepe” Mujicaa former Marxist guerrilla and flower producer whose radical mark of democracy, frank philosophy and simple lifestyle fascinated people around the world, died. I was 89 years old.
His death was announced by the current Uruguayan president, Yangines orsithat in a post at X Mujica as “President, activist, guide and leader.”
According to, “Pepe” Mujica was receiving treatments for esophageal cancer Since spring of 2024, when the disease was diagnosed.
Even after the treatments made him weak and with difficulty eating, mujica reappeared in the political scene In the fall of 2024, in a campaign for the left coalition in the national elections that took their favorite and protected candidate, Orsi, to the presidency.
In September 2024, his doctor reported that the radiation had achieved eliminate much of the tumor of Mujica. But in January 2025, cancer in the esophagus had returned and was spread throughout the liver.
Their autoimmune disease and other underlying medical problems have led to mujic decide not to proceed with more treatments.
“Honestly, I’m dying“Mujica admitted to the magazine in the one who said it was his last interview.“ I ask you to make me quiet. My cycle is over. A warrior has the right to rest“.
Mujica’s Life Journey had many unexpected twists – escaped from prison twice and was dangerously close to death In at least one occasion.
Eventually became one of most respected national leaders From South America, he recalls that in 2013 he included Mujica on his list of major global thinkers by “redefine the Latin American leftAnd by idealizing “an experience of unprecedented social liberalism” in the region.
During its presidency, between 2010 and 2015, Mujica, known as “Pepe”, supervised the transformation of your small South American nation one of the socially more liberal democracies in the world.
It won admiration in your country and worship status abroad for legalizing Marijuana and the same -sex marriagepromulgate the first comprehensive law of abortion rights in the region and establish Uruguay as a leader in alternative energy.
Mujica aroused global fascination by rejecting the presidential palace To live in a small country house and donate most of your salary to charity.
In the 1960s, it was Founder of the Guerrilla Movement urban Marxist-Leninist Tupamaros, who started for stealing to the rich to give the poorbut later climbed his action to Robbed, bombardeamentthe and murders.
During these years, Mujica lived a life of audacityRemember The Guardian. He suffered multiple fire injuries and participated in a mass escape from the prison.
But when Tupamaros collapsed In 1972, it was recaptured and passed All 1973-1985 Uruguayan dictatorship in prisonwhere it was tortured and spent years in lonely isolation.
After its release, dedicated to politics And in 1989 he founded the Popular Participation Movement (MPP), the largest party of the Left Front Large coalition. Elected to Congress in 1995, became Senator in 2000 and then Minister of Agriculture in the first left government of Uruguay.
Fulfilled only a five -year term as presidentaccording to the mandate limits of Uruguay.
Mujica had no children and leaves his wife, Lucía Topolanskyanother old militant.
In his final interview with the Full, published this Tuesday, Mujica repeatedly answered the questions with philosophical aphorisms.
“Life is a beautiful adventure and a miracle“He said.“ We are too focused on wealth and not happiness. We are focused only on doing things and – before you realize – Life has gone through it“.
