Jose Mujica: The World’s Humblest President from Uruguay Who Lived Simply | Gita Blog Sport
Gitablogsport.com - In the southeastern corner of South America lies Uruguay, the continent’s second-smallest nation and the birthplace of one of the world’s most humble leaders. Jose Mujica, famously known as "the poorest president in the world."
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Jose Mujica served as Uruguay’s 40th president from March 2010 to March 2015. He was born on May 20, 1935, in the capital city of Montevideo.
From a young age, Jose Alberto Mujica Cordano, his full name was familiar with struggles for justice and national causes.
According to historical accounts, during Uruguay's era of military dictatorship in the 1970s and 1980s, Mujica was a member of the Tupamaros guerrilla movement and spent 14 years in prison.
After being released, he joined a left-wing political coalition known as the Broad Front (Frente Amplio). After serving as a senator for several years, he was elected President of Uruguay on March 1, 2010.
Mujica never forgot his difficult childhood. His father, Demetrio Mujica, went bankrupt when Jose was only five years old and passed away a few months later. To help support his family, young Jose worked delivering goods for a local bakery.
As president, Mujica chose a modest lifestyle. He refused to exploit his position for luxury and instead donated about 90% of his monthly salary of $12,000 to the poor.
This act earned him the title "the poorest president in the world." He declined to live in the presidential palace and opted for his small farmhouse instead.
To fulfill his campaign promises, Mujica implemented numerous social welfare programs that benefited a wide range of citizens. He also strengthened diplomatic and economic relations with friendly nations to expand Uruguay’s influence in the region.
From his modest attire to his humble home, anyone observing Mujica would hardly believe he once led a nation. He lived with his wife, Lucia Topolansky, and their three-legged dog, Manuela, and drove a beat-up 1987 Volkswagen Beetle.
Renowned for his generosity, Mujica often gave personal financial assistance to the poor and struggling small businesses in Uruguay straight from his own bank account.
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In a 2012 interview with the BBC, he said that owning fewer possessions brings less stress. “I may look like a quirky old man, but this is a choice I made freely,” said Mujica, who openly identified as an atheist.
In 2015, after completing his five-year term, Mujica affectionately called “El Pepe” stepped down and retired from politics. Nevertheless, he maintained his humble way of life, spending his days gardening and cultivating flowers.
Although Uruguay’s history has seen many ups and downs, Jose Mujica remains a symbol of unwavering integrity and simplicity in the nation's timeline.