The funeral of former Uruguayan president José Mujica was changed on Wednesday (14) so that Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva can arrive in time in Montevideo. The newspaper The observer He said that the wake, which would end at 3 pm this Thursday (15), was extended for two more hours for the arrival of the Brazilian.
Yesterday, thousands of Uruguayans said goodbye to Mujica in one – the coffin slowly passed a wagon pulled by horses. “Thanks, Pepe!” Some shouted. Others cried. Many carried tracks or wore black t-shirts with famous phrases from the former president, such as “No Me Voy, Estoy Llegando” (I’m not leaving, I’m coming, in free translation). From the balconies of the buildings, applause while the procession passed.
The former guerrilla, who became a reference of the Latin American left, died on Tuesday, 13, at the age of 89, as a result of esophagus cancer. The body was taken to Congress, where the funeral is being held open to the public. The government decreed three days of official mourning.
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After just over 24 hours of public funeral, Mujica will have his last wish attended: he will be cremated and buried in his farm, in Rincón del Cerro, next to his dog, Manuela, faithful companion of interviews, who died in 2018 at the age of 22.
Reverence
The departure of the “poorer president of the world”, as was often described in international headlines, triggered a wave of messages from Latin American leaders and figures from the international left.
Lula, his great friend and regional ally, highlighted “his human greatness” and made a point of attending the wake. “I intend to go to the burial of Mujica because I think the least we have to do is say goodbye to the people who served as a reference for us with demonstration of much dignity and much respect,” said the Brazilian president, during his visit to Beijing.
