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Pepe Mujica: From Political Prisoner to Uruguayan President
- José 'Pepe' Mujica passed away from cancer on May 13, 2025, in Uruguay, where tens of thousands gathered to honor him as his coffin was transported through the streets; following his wishes, he was cremated.
- Mujica's political path began with guerrilla actions as a Tupamaro in the 1960s and 14 years in prison before leading Uruguay from 2010 to 2015 with the leftist Frente Amplio coalition.
- During his presidency, Mujica legalized same-sex marriage, abortion, and marijuana, reduced poverty from 13% to 7%, increased the minimum wage by 250%, and left office with nearly 70% approval.
- He described himself as an elderly man nearing the final phase of his journey, conveying humility while expressing confidence that others will carry on his efforts.
- Mujica’s passing marks the loss of a symbolic figure whose model sparked debate on limitations amid Latin America’s social inequalities and complex political challenges.
34 Articles
34 Articles
Pepe Mujica: From political prisoner to Uruguayan president
They called him the world’s poorest, or humblest, president. He was often seen driving himself in his 1987 baby blue VW bug. Memes have gone viral recently showing him giving Noam Chomsky a ride. He lived on a farm. His clothes were simple. So were his words and his actions. Yet he created tremendous change and left an indelible mark on the tiny country of Uruguay and the entire region of Latin America. When Pepe Mujica passed, tens of thousa…
“If I asked people to live the way I live, they would kill me,” said Jose Mujica, a Uruguayan politician. The media wrote a lot about his ascetic lifestyle and the fact that he donates most of his salary to charity. Mujica was cited as an example as a politician who did not exploit his position and stayed close to the people. His presidency from 2010 to 2015 was remembered for its many reforms: he legalized abortion, same-sex marriage and mariju…
The recent departure of José “Pepe” Mujica, former President of Uruguay, has revived the analysis of his political legacy and, in particular, of how his austere lifestyle and ethical coherence have shaped campaign narratives in Latin America. Mujica, known for rejecting the luxuries of power, living in his modest chacra and donating much of his salary, became a symbol of integrity and closeness with the people. During his presidency, Mujica prom…
Former Uruguayan president José "Pepe" Mujica died this week at the age of 89. This atypical politician leaves the memory of a simple man, eager for social justice.
The death of Pepe Mujica, this strange example of the Latin American left, has served to talk for a few hours – but it will certainly be talked about for many days – about everything that politics could be and almost never is. Mujica was a wise man without alharaca, and he had gained wisdom at the point of pain; he went through violence and lived in it, as an actor and much more as a victim, but he was one of the very rare revolutionaries who kn…
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