MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

José “Pepe” Mujica, Uruguay’s iconic former President, dies at 89

Mujica had been battling esophageal cancer since 2024

José Alberto “Pepe” Mujica, former President of Uruguay and a global symbol of humility and social justice, has passed away at the age of 89. “He leaves as he lived, as a man of the people, a voice for the humble, a fighter for justice. Farewell, Pepe. Thank you for so much,” President Yamandú Orsi wrote on social media, announcing the death of one of Latin America’s most iconic leaders.

Mujica was born on May 20, 1935, in Montevideo, Uruguay. Before becoming president, he was a guerrilla fighter with the Movimiento de Liberación Nacional-Tupamaros in the 1960s. His involvement in the armed struggle against Uruguay's military regime led to his imprisonment for over a decade (1972–1985). After his release, he transitioned into politics, joining the leftist Frente Amplio (Broad Front) coalition.

Con profundo dolor comunicamos que falleció nuestro compañero Pepe Mujica. Presidente, militante, referente y conductor. Te vamos a extrañar mucho Viejo querido. Gracias por todo lo que nos diste y por tu profundo amor por tu pueblo.

— Yamandú Orsi (@OrsiYamandu) May 13, 2025

Elected as a deputy in 1989 and later as a senator, Mujica served as Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries (2005–2008) before being elected President of Uruguay in 2010. His presidency was marked by progressive policies, including the legalization of same-sex marriage, abortion, and the regulation of cannabis, which garnered him international recognition.

Mujica became known worldwide for his austere lifestyle. He famously refused the presidential palace, choosing instead to live with his wife, former Vice President Lucía Topolansky, on their modest farm outside Montevideo. He donated most of his presidential salary to social causes, earning the nickname “the world’s poorest president.”

After leaving the presidency in 2015, Mujica returned to the Senate but resigned in 2020, citing age and health reasons. “I love politics, but I love life more,” he said at the time.

Mujica had been battling esophageal cancer since 2024, a condition that later spread to his liver. Despite initial remission, his health deteriorated in recent months, with his wife confirming he was receiving only palliative care.

“Honestly, I am dying,” he said in January. “The warrior has the right to his rest,” he added.