The world’s ‘poorest president’ Mujica has died

Former Uruguayan President Jose Mujica has died. He was known as ‘Pepe’. He was 89 years old. The British media outlet BBC reported this in a report on Wednesday (May 14).

A legend and guerrilla fighter to leftists around the world ruled Uruguay from 2010 to 2015. He was known as the ‘poorest president’ in the world due to his modest lifestyle.

He was placed in palliative care at the beginning of this May after a year-long battle with esophageal cancer.

The current President of Uruguay, Yamandu Orsi X, announced his death on his handle. In a condolence message, he said, ‘It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our comrade Pepe Mujica. President, political activist, guide and leader. Dear friend, we will miss you very much.’

He also wrote, ‘Thank you for what you have given us and for your deep love for the people.’

The cause of the politician’s death is not known, but he had been suffering from esophageal cancer.

As president, he became popular for his simple lifestyle, criticism of consumerism, and several social reform campaigns.

During his time, Uruguay legalized the recreational use of marijuana. Through these efforts, Mujica became a well-known political figure in Latin America and beyond.

As a young man, Mujica was a member of the National Party, one of Uruguay’s traditional political forces, which later became the center-right opposition to his government.

In the 1960s, he helped found the guerrilla group Tupamaros National Liberation Movement (MLN-T).

Then, influenced by the Cuban Revolution and international socialism, the MLN-T began a campaign of clandestine resistance against the Uruguayan government.

During this period, Mujica was arrested four times. In 1970, he was shot six times and nearly died. In 2005, he became a minister in the first government of the leftist Frente Amplio coalition in Uruguay. In 2010, he became President of Uruguay.