Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — José “Pepe” Mujica, the former president of Uruguay widely revered as the “world’s poorest president,” died on Tuesday, May 13, at the age of 89. His passing sparked an outpouring of condolences from across Uruguay and around the world.
The news was announced by Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi via social media platform X. “With deep sorrow, we announce that our friend Pepe Mujica has passed away,” Orsi wrote, describing Mujica as “a president, an activist, a guiding figure, and a driving force.”
Mujica gained international fame for his austere lifestyle and progressive leadership. During his presidency, he rejected the official presidential palace in favor of his modest farmhouse outside Montevideo, where he lived with his wife, Lucia Topolansky. He famously donated most of his presidential salary to charity, earning admiration across Latin America and beyond.
Born on May 20, 1935, Mujica was a co-founder of the Tupamaros National Liberation Movement (MLN-T), a Marxist urban guerrilla group inspired by the Cuban Revolution. He spent over a decade in prison during Uruguay’s military dictatorship, much of it in harsh solitary confinement.
Before rising to the presidency, Mujica served as a lawmaker and, in 2005, was appointed Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries under the first administration of the leftist Broad Front (Frente Amplio) coalition.
Elected president in 2010, Mujica oversaw a period of strong economic growth, averaging 5.4 percent annually, while reducing poverty and keeping unemployment low. He left office in 2015 with an approval rating around 70 percent in a nation of just 3.4 million people.
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Mujica’s presidency was marked by landmark social reforms. He legalized abortion, same-sex marriage, and the regulated sale of marijuana, placing Uruguay at the forefront of progressive policymaking in the region. He also welcomed refugees from war-torn Afghanistan.
But Mujica was known for more than just his policies. His disdain for consumerism and global inequality, paired with his authenticity and humility, made him a symbol of alternative leadership on the world stage.
In his final months, Mujica battled cancer, which doctors confirmed had entered a terminal phase in recent weeks. The death of José Mujica, a guerrilla-turned-president who embodied humility, idealism, and quiet strength, has left a deep mark on Uruguay and earned heartfelt tributes from leaders and citizens across the globe.
(Raidi/Agung)
