José Mujica (often known as “Pepe”), the former president of Uruguay, passed away at the age of 89.
Because of his modest lifestyle, the former rebel who led Uruguay from 2010 to 2015 was dubbed the “poorest president” in the world.
When he announced his predecessor’s passing on X, current President Yamandú Orsi wrote, “thank you for everything you gave us and for your deep love for your people.”
Although his cause of death is unknown, the politician had oesophageal cancer.
Mujica became a well-known political figure in Latin America and beyond due to his straightforward lifestyle as president, his critique of consumerism, and the social reforms he championed, which included Uruguay becoming the first nation to legalize marijuana for recreational use.
Because of the simple way he lived as president, his criticism of consumerism and the social reforms he promoted – which, among other things, meant Uruguay became the first country to legalise the recreational use of marijuana – Mujica became a well-known political figure in Latin America and beyond.
For a president of Uruguay, a nation of only 3.4 million people, his widespread popularity is remarkable, and his legacy has also sparked considerable debate. Despite the widespread perception that Mujica was not a member of the political elite, this was actually not the case.
He claimed that his mother, who reared him in a middle-class home in the capital city of Montevideo, had instilled in him a love of politics, books, and farming.
When he was younger, Mujica belonged to Uruguay’s established political party, the National Party, which subsequently evolved into the center-right opposition to his government.