Jose Mujica: All About World's 'Poorest President' Who Died At 89
Uruguay's current President Yamandu Orsi confirmed Mujica's death on X, writing, "It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our comrade Pepe Mujica. President, activist, leader and guide. We will miss you very much, dear old man. Thank you for everything you gave us and for your profound love for your people."
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
Mujica had revealed in 2024 that he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, which later spread to his liver. He chose to stop treatment earlier this year and spent his final days on his farm, where he lived throughout his presidency.
Guerrilla Fighter Turned President
Mujica's journey from insurgent to president was nothing short of extraordinary. Inspired by the Cuban Revolution, he became a key figure in the Tupamaros, a leftist guerrilla group that launched an armed rebellion in the 1960s and 70s. During Uruguay's military dictatorship, he was captured and spent nearly 15 years in prison, much of it in solitary confinement.
In a 2020 interview, Mujica described the brutal conditions he endured: "Being tied up with wire with my hands behind my back for six months... going two years without being taken to the bathroom."
He was released after democracy was restored in 1985, and later co-founded the Movement of Popular Participation (MPP), under which he won seats in the legislature. He became Uruguay's president in 2010 after securing over 50% of the vote.
A Humble Leader With Big Reforms
During his 2010-2015 presidency, Mujica steered Uruguay through economic growth and pushed through some of Latin America's most progressive reforms. Under his leadership, Uruguay legalised abortion, same-sex marriage, and became the first country in the world to legalise recreational cannabis.
But Mujica's popularity went far beyond politics. He became a global symbol of simplicity and integrity, famously refusing to live in the presidential palace and instead staying at his ramshackle farmhouse with his wife, growing vegetables and donating most of his salary to charity.
He rejected the "world's poorest president" label, saying: "I'm not a poor president; poor is someone who needs a lot. I'm a sober president. I need little to live, because I live the way I lived long before I became president."
Final Days
In April 2024, Mujica disclosed his cancer diagnosis. By early 2025, the illness had advanced, and he told a local news outlet, Busqueda, "I'm doomed, brother. This is as far as I go." He declined further treatment and chose to spend his remaining days in peace.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
5 days ago
- Mint
Fidel Castro's grandson slammed for flaunting lavish lifestyle amid Cuba's economic crisis
At a time when Cuba is grappling with its worst economic crisis in decades, Fidel Castro's grandson, Sandro Castro, is drawing widespread criticism for showcasing his extravagant lifestyle on Instagram. According to El País, the 33-year-old, who has over 1.2 lakh followers, regularly posts clips of himself cruising in luxury cars through Havana, partying on yachts with bottles of Cristal beer, and hosting high-end gatherings at his private club, EFE Bar. In one recent video, Sandro appeared to mock the ongoing blackouts in Havana, where residents are often left without electricity for up to 20 hours a day. In another clip, he called Cristal beer 'medicine that must never be missing from his bar.' He also filmed himself urging US President Donald Trump to 'give opportunity and life to the migrant,' at a time when Cuba is witnessing one of its largest exoduses in modern history. Sandro Castro is the son of Alexis Castro Soto del Valle, one of Fidel Castro's five sons from his second marriage. Fidel Castro, who led the Cuban Revolution and ruled for nearly five decades, was known for promoting values of austerity, discipline, and sacrifice. His grandson's public displays of wealth stand in stark contrast to the ideals the former leader propagated. Born when Fidel Castro was 65, Sandro was raised in the elite gated community of Punto Cero in Havana, far removed from the economic hardships faced by most Cubans. According to the Daily Mail, Sandro also frequently shares videos from El Patrón, a countryside resort that charges around $100 a night—more than four months of the average Cuban salary, which is just $16.50 a month. Cuba is currently facing an unprecedented financial crisis, marked by severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicines. Inflation is soaring, and the island nation's import-heavy economy has suffered a 30% drop in foreign currency revenue in recent years, as per a Reuters report published in July. Amid this turmoil, videos of Sandro's lavish parties, where entry fees reportedly touch 1,000 Cuban Pesos and table reservations cost up to 15,000 CUP, have triggered anger and disbelief among citizens. This isn't the first time Sandro has sparked backlash. In 2021, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he went viral for a video shot inside a luxury Mercedes-Benz. After facing online outrage, he later clarified that the car belonged to a friend and he was merely 'testing it out.'
NDTV
03-06-2025
- NDTV
Mongolia PM Resigns After Losing Confidence Vote
Ulaanbaatar: Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene resigned on Tuesday, a parliamentary statement said, after losing a confidence vote among lawmakers. The secret ballot followed days of protests in the capital Ulaanbaatar against alleged corruption. Speaking after the result of the vote was announced to parliament, Oyun-Erdene said: "It was an honour to serve my country and people in times of difficulties, including pandemics, wars, and tariffs." He will remain as caretaker prime minister until his successor is appointed within 30 days. Mongolia, a landlocked democracy in northern Asia, has battled deep-seated corruption for decades. Many in the country believe that wealthy elites are hoarding the profits of a years-long coal mining boom at the expense of the general population. Since Oyun-Erdene took power in 2021, Mongolia has plummeted in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. The country has seen frequent protests and unrest, and hundreds of young people turned out in Ulaanbaatar last week calling for his resignation. Fuelling public outrage are accusations that members of the prime minister's family are enjoying lavish lifestyles far beyond what a civil servant on the public dime could afford. In a statement to AFP last month, the prime minister's office said it "vehemently" denied the allegations, describing them as a "smear". Concerns over the economy and rising living costs have also stoked the unrest. Some counter-protesters -- overwhelmingly older than their pro-opposition counterparts -- also turned out to support the prime minister. - Secret ballot - Mongolia has been ruled by a three-way coalition government since elections last year resulted in a significantly reduced majority for Oyun-Erdene's Mongolian People's Party (MPP). But the MPP evicted the second-largest member, the Democratic Party (DP), from the coalition last month after some younger DP lawmakers backed calls for Oyun-Erdene's resignation. The move pushed the country's political scene into further uncertainty. Some 82 lawmakers participated in the secret ballot, with 44 voting for retaining confidence in Oyun-Erdene, and 38 against. The ballot did not reach the 64-vote threshold required from the 126-seat parliament, prompting Oyun-Erdene to stand down. On Monday, hundreds of young protesters crowded onto the square outside the parliament building, marching with white placards and chanting: "It is easy to resign." Organiser Ulamsaikhan Otgon, 24, said the weeks of demonstrations "have showcased throughout that young people are very sensitive to unfairness" in society. Yroolt, a 30-year-old content creator, said it was the second demonstration he had attended. "The reason I came is because I want a different life, a different society," he told an AFP reporter, declining to share his last name out of privacy concerns. "We all know injustice is deeply embedded in our society but it's time for change."
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Time of India
Mongolia PM faces likely confidence vote amid anti-corruption protests
ULAANBAATAR: Mongolia's parliament is expected to vote Monday on whether to keep its fracturing coalition government in office, amid protests against the country's embattled prime minister over alleged corruption. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The landlocked democracy in northern Asia has struggled with corruption for decades, and many in the country say a wealthy elite is hoarding the profits of a years-long coal mining boom at the expense of the general population. Those tensions resurfaced last month after reports of allegedly lavish spending by the son of Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene sparked protests in the capital Ulaanbaatar. Oyun-Erdene is due to address the State Great Khural the Mongolian parliament on Monday ahead of an expected "confidence vote" to decide whether the government he heads should continue, according to the prime minister's office. It would mark the first time a Mongolian prime minister has submitted a confidence motion in their own government and raises the spectre of Oyun-Erdene's resignation if he loses. Hundreds of young protesters crowded onto the square outside the parliament building on Monday morning, marching with white placards and chanting: "It is easy to resign." Organiser Ulamsaikhan Otgon, 24, said the weeks of demonstrations "have showcased throughout that young people are very sensitive to unfairness" in society. Yroolt, a 30-year-old content creator, said it was the second time he had attended. "The reason I came is because I want a different life, a different society," he told an AFP reporter, declining to share his last name out of privacy concerns. "We all know injustice is deeply embedded in our society but it's time for change." Mongolia has been ruled by a three-way coalition government since elections last year resulted in a significantly reduced majority for Oyun-Erdene's Mongolian People's Party (MPP). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But the MPP evicted the second-largest group, the Democratic Party (DP), from the coalition agreement last month after some younger DP lawmakers backed calls for Oyun-Erdene's resignation. The move pushed the country's fractious political scene into further uncertainty. Since Oyun-Erdene took power in 2021, Mongolia has plummeted in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. The allegations against Oyun-Erdene's family have hit a nerve at a time when many in the country are also worried about their economic prospects and rising living costs. The prime minister's office has denied allegations of impropriety, describing them as a "smear", and warned of economic chaos if his government collapses. Some counter-protesters, overwhelmingly older than their pro-opposition counterparts, also turned out to support the prime minister last month.
