Former Uruguayan President José Mujica has died at the age of 89, just a week before his 90th birthday. The president, widely known as “Pepe”, governed Uruguay from 2010 to 2015.
Mr Mujica has become an icon of the Latin American world, having gained the nickname of the world’s “poorest president”. He lived a modest lifestyle and donated around 90% of his $12,000 (£8,985) a month salary to charities that benefited the poor and small entrepreneurs. As such, he earned around £500 a month. While the cause of the politician’s death is not known, he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2024.
“We are going to miss you very much dear old man,” Uruguay’s current president, Yamandú Orsi said as he announced his death on X on Tuesday. “Thank you for all you gave us and for your deep love for your people.”
Born on May 20, 1935 in Montevideo, Mr Mujica was a former guerrilla with the Tupamaros – the National Liberation Movement that operated in Uruguay during the 1960s and 70s. He was tortured and imprisoned for 14 years during the military dictatorship in the following decades. He was freed in 1985 when Uruguay returned to democracy.
A member of the Broad Front coalition of left-wing parties, Mr Mujica served as Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries from 2005 to 2008 and then became a Senator. He won the 2009 presidential election and took office in March 2010.
An outspoken critic of capitalism’s focus on stockpiling material possessions which do not contribute to human happiness, The Times referred to him as the “philosopher president” in 2015 – a play on Plato’s conception of the philosopher king.
While in office, Mr Mujica rejected moving into the presidential residence – a mansion – instead choosing to remain with his wife, former guerrilla Lucía Topolansky, in their modest home on the outskirts of Montevideo with no domestic help and little security. He always dressed casually and was often seen driving his light blue 1987 Volkswagen Beetle.
During his administration, the Uruguayan economy grew at an average rate of 5.4%, poverty was reduced and unemployment remained low. This coincided with a period of fairly favourable international conditions.
He also drew global attention for the social laws passed by parliament during those years, including the legalisation of abortion, the recognition of same-sex marriage and state regulation of the marijuana market. By the end of his administration, Mr Mujica had a high domestic popularity rating, close to 70%.
Despite gaining the nickname of “the world’s poorest president”, Mr Mujica never accepted the title: ” “They say I’m the poorest president. No, I’m not,” he explained in an interview at his home in 2012. “Poor are those who want more […] because they’re in an endless race.”