TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jose Mujica, the former leftist guerrilla and president of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015, has died at the age of 89. Mujica had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2024.
Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi shared the news on social media on Tuesday.
"It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of our comrade Pepe Mujica," Orsi wrote. "Thank you for everything you gave us and for your deep love for your people
Mujica earned admiration beyond Uruguay for leading efforts to legalize same-sex marriage, expand environmental policies, and ease restrictions on marijuana.
He was also widely respected for his modest lifestyle. Even during his presidency, he chose to live at a rural flower farm instead of the presidential palace. In a 2022 interview with Al Jazeera, he explained that such luxury could "disconnect" a president from their people.
"I believe that politicians should live like the majority of their people, not like how the privileged minority lives," Mujica said.
His passing sparked tributes from across the world, particularly among left-wing leaders in Latin America.
"We deeply regret the passing of our beloved Pepe Mujica, an example to Latin America and the entire world for his wisdom, foresight, and simplicity," wrote Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric reflected on Mujica's legacy with a message of hope.
"If you left us anything, it was the unquenchable hope that things can be done better," he wrote.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro honored Mujica while calling for greater unity in the region.
"Goodbye, friend," Petro wrote. "I hope that Latin America will one day have an anthem."
Mujica came to symbolize a generation of political figures who guided their countries out of military rule. Like Petro, Mujica was once a rebel fighter.
In the 1960s, he helped lead the Tupamaros, a left-wing urban guerrilla group known for carrying out bank robberies and staging confrontations with police.
He was arrested several times and spent nearly a decade in solitary confinement, where he endured torture.
The government crackdown on leftist militants helped set the stage for a military coup in 1973. The resulting dictatorship committed widespread human rights abuses, including forced disappearances.
Uruguay began its transition back to democracy in 1985. Mujica and other former rebels were released under an amnesty law.
He went on to join the Broad Front, a left-of-center coalition that included other ex-guerrillas. Eventually, he became a prominent figure in national politics.
Elected president at 74, Mujica pushed for progressive reforms in civil liberties and social policy, including the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage, and marijuana. He also championed green energy initiatives that put Uruguay at the forefront of climate action.
His wife, Lucia Topolansky, whom he met during his time with the Tupamaros, also became a leading political figure. They married in 2005, and she later served as his vice president.
Even in office, Mujica maintained his humble image. He drove an old Volkswagen Beetle and rejected the trappings of high office, leading many to call him the “poorest president in the world.”
"We elect a president, and it’s as if they’re a candidate to be king, someone with a court, a red carpet, who has to live in a fancy palace," Mujica told Al Jazeera in 2022. "Don’t blame the pig, but those who scratch his back."
After stepping down, Mujica remained a visible figure in regional politics. He attended the inaugurations of leaders across Latin America and supported candidates at home, including Orsi, elected in 2024.
In a 2024 interview with Reuters, Mujica shared his thoughts on aging in politics.
"The problem is that the world is run by old people, who forget what they were like when they were young," he said.
Doctors informed Mujica in September 2024 that radiation therapy had successfully targeted his esophageal cancer. But by January 2025, the illness had returned and spread to his heart.
Still, Mujica remained calm.
"Honestly, I’m dying," he told Busqueda magazine in what he described as his final interview. "A warrior has the right to rest."
Editor's Choice: Trump to Meet Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa Today
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
