THE LEADER WHO TAMED THE FRAUD
José <<Pepe>> Mujica, born on May 20, 1935 in Montevideo, went down in history as the poorest president of a country that has ever existed. Beloved by the people, thanks to his characteristic humility and simplicity, he dressed the whole of Uruguay in black, with his death on May 13, 2025, at the age of 89.
In the 1960s, motivated by poverty and intense social inequalities, being himself the offspring of a poor Italo-Basque family, he joined the Tupamaros National Liberation Movement, a group formed by educated young revolutionaries. The purpose of the organization was the fight against the authoritarian government of that time. The active revolutionary Mujica was arrested by the <<authorities>>. He spent 14 years in prison, most of which in complete isolation. Torture, lack of light and human contact. He fought not to lose his mind. Not to go crazy.
With the return of democracy, Mujica set sail on the boat of politics in 1986. He participated in the founding of the Popular Participation Movement, which joined a broader alliance called "the Left Front". After a successful career as Minister of Agriculture, this romantic guerrilla was elected president in 2009. A brilliant five-year term (2010-2015) followed, during which Uruguay took an upward course. With brave reforms, Mujica managed to stabilize the national economy. Under his leadership, the country reached the point of occupying the highest GDP growth rates in the world. The social prosperity that he managed to achieve is particularly remarkable. He lowered unemployment rates, while at the same time increasing wages and pensions. He protected and perpetuated freedom, in every possible way. His goal, the prosperity of his people.
He refused all luxuries, such as living in the presidential palace, while constantly driving his old Volkswagen. He donated 90% of his salary to charities and social programs, while at the same time living on a small farm with his wife. He lived as a farmer, while at the same time governing an entire country. A deep patriot, who loved the place and the people like no other.
"We didn't bring the revolution."
Only the minimum dignity
SOURCES:
- "The poorest president in the world..." channel: MOOO
- "PEPE MUHIKA, THE POOREST PRESIDENT..." channel:ERT3Social
- "Tribute to the dreamy guerrillas of the city of Tupamaros" website: Marios Dionellis
- "Pepe Mujica, the guerrilla who became president of Uruguay and a symbol of politics, has died" website: LIFO
- "Jose Pepe Mujica: The modest revolutionary who ruled humanity with a compass" website: The Voice of Greece
Photo By Roosewelt Pinheiro/ABr – Agencia Brasil [1], CC BY 3.0 br, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7500013, https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/
