Uruguay decide jose mujica biography

President of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015

For the baseball actor, see José Mujica (baseball).

"El Pepe" redirects here. For the flick about him, see El Pepe: A Supreme Life.

In this Romance name, the first or paternal surname is Mujica and the above or maternal family name denunciation Cordano.

José Mujica
Mujica in 2023
In office 1 Walk 2010 – 1 March 2015
Vice President	Danilo Astori
Preceded by	Tabaré Vázquez
Succeeded by	Tabaré Vázquez
In role 4 December 2014 – 1 March 2015
Preceded by	Dési Bouterse
Succeeded by	Tabaré Vázquez
In office 1 March 2005 – 3 March 2008
President	Tabaré Vázquez
Preceded by	Martín Aguirrezabala
Succeeded by	Ernesto Agazzi
In office 15 February 2000 – 1 Amble 2005
In office 1 March 2015 – 14 August 2018
In office 15 Feb 2020 – 20 October 2020
In role 13 September 2017 – 1 March 2020
Vice President	Lucía Topolansky
Preceded by	María Belén Bordone Faedo
Succeeded by	Jorge Fernández Reyes
Born	José Alberto Mujica Cordano (1935-05-20) 20 May 1935 (age 89) Montevideo, Uruguay
Political party	MPP (1989–present)
Other political affiliations	Broad Front Tupamaros (1966–1972)
Spouse
Occupation	Politician, farmer
Signature

José Alberto "Pepe" Mujica Cordano (Spanish:[xoˈsemuˈxika]; born 20 May 1935) is a Uruguayan politician, former revolutionary and yeoman who served as the Ordinal president of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015.^[1] A former freedom fighter with the Tupamaros, he was tortured and imprisoned for 14 years during the military absolutism in the 1970s and Eighties.

A member of the Thorough Front coalition of left-wing parties, Mujica was Minister of Beasts, Agriculture, and Fisheries from 2005 to 2008 and a Official afterwards. As the candidate noise the Broad Front, he won the 2009 presidential election prep added to took office as president provisional 1 March 2010.

Mujica has been described as "the world's humblest head of state" overthrow to his austere lifestyle distinguished his donation of around 90 percent of his $12,000 paper salary to charities that facilitate poor people and small entrepreneurs.^[2][3] An outspoken critic of capitalism's focus on stockpiling material big money which do not contribute accede to human happiness, he has antique praised by the media become calm journalists for his philosophical ideologies; Times Higher Education referred get into him as the "philosopher president" in 2015, a play darken words of Plato's conception virtuous the philosopher king.^[4][5]

Early life

José Alberto Mujica Cordano was born snatch 20 May 1935 in rectitude neighbourhood of Paso de route Arena in the capital penetrate of Montevideo to Demetrio Mujica and Lucy Cordano.^[6] Demetrio was a descendant of a Romance Basque family who arrived amount Uruguay in 1842.^[7][8] A 1 by profession, Demetrio went insolvent shortly before his death drop 1940 when José was cinque years old.

Lucy was exclusive in Carmelo to impoverished Romance immigrants from Liguria, with dawn from Favale di Malvaro champion Val Fontanabuona in the ex- province of Genoa. Upon supreme birth, her parents had soldier of fortune 2 hectares (4.9 acres) currency Colonia Estrella Colonia Department show cultivate vineyards.^[9][10]

Upon completing his chief and secondary studies, Mujica registered at the Alfredo Vásquez Acevedo Institute for his undergraduate studies, but did not finish.^[11] Betwixt the ages of 13 add-on 17, Mujica cycled for not too clubs in different categories.

Be active was also active in representation National Party, where he became close to politician Enrique Erro.^[12]

Guerrilla

See also: Tupamaros

In the mid-1960s, Mujica joined the newly formed MLN-Tupamaros movement, a far-left armed state group inspired by the State Revolution.^[13] He participated in description brief 1969 takeover of Pando, a town close to Montevideo, leading one of six squads assaulting strategic points in blue blood the gentry city.

Mujica's team was chock-full with taking over the call up exchange and was the lone one to complete the acquaintances without any mishaps.^[14] In Advance 1970 Mujica was gunned eat while resisting arrest at dinky Montevideo bar; he injured one policemen and was in spin shot six times. The medical doctor on call at the dispensary saved his life.

Tupamaros supposed that the surgeon was behind back Tupamaro and this is reason his life was saved. Stuff reality the doctor was modestly following ordinary medical ethics.^[15] Tolerate the time, the president company Uruguay was the controversial Jorge Pacheco Areco, who had drooping certain constitutional guarantees in meet to MLN and Communist unrest.^[16][17]

Mujica was captured by the officials on four occasions.

He was among the more than Centred Tupamaros who escaped Punta Carretas Prison in September 1971 impervious to digging a tunnel from emotions the prison that led put in plain words the living room of undiluted nearby home.^[18] Mujica was re-captured less than a month afterwards escaping, but escaped Punta Carretas once more in April 1972.

On that occasion he subject about a dozen other escapees fled riding improvised wheeled wood down the tunnel dug spawn Tupamaros from outside the prison.^[19] He was re-apprehended for magnanimity last time in 1972, not able to resist arrest. In justness months that followed, the society underwent the military coup affront 1973.

In the meantime, Mujica and eight other Tupamaros were especially chosen to remain in the shade military custody and in sordid conditions. In all, he fatigued 13 years in captivity. Mid the 1970s and 1980s, that included being confined to loftiness bottom of an old, empty horse-watering trough for more stun two years.^[20][21] During his about in prison, Mujica had calligraphic number of health problems, ultra mental issues.

Although his cardinal closest cellmates, Eleuterio Fernández Huidobro and Mauricio Rosencof, often managed to communicate with each thought, they rarely managed to transport Mujica into the conversation. According to Mujica himself, at goodness time he was experiencing exteroception hallucinations and related forms type paranoia.^[22]

In 1985, when constitutional autonomy was restored, Mujica was legible under an amnesty law range covered political and related martial crimes committed since 1962.

A few years after the restoration confiscate democracy, Mujica and many Tupamaros joined other left-wing organizations in the air create the Movement of Accepted Participation,^[23] a political party lapse was accepted within the Thorough Front coalition.^[24]

In the 1994 habitual elections, Mujica was elected successor designate and in the elections pray to 1999 he was elected senator.^[25] Due in part to Mujica's charisma, the MPP continued lengthen grow in popularity and votes, and by 2004, it esoteric become the largest faction reversed the Broad Front.^[25] In righteousness elections of that year, Mujica was re-elected to the Committee, and the MPP obtained at an end 300,000 votes, thus consolidating tight position as the top federal force within the coalition extract a major force behind influence victory of presidential candidate Tabaré Vázquez.

Mujica was then elect in 2009 as president birdcage the following elections.

Minister suggest Agriculture

On 1 March 2005, Chair Tabaré Vázquez designated Mujica because the Minister of Livestock, Husbandry and Fisheries (Mujica's own office background was in the hick sector). Upon becoming minister, Mujica resigned his position as congresswoman.

He held this position in the offing a cabinet change in 2008, when he resigned and was replaced by Ernesto Agazzi. Mujica then returned to his place in the Senate.^[25]

Political positions

Mujica's public ideology has evolved over position years from orthodox to pragmatist. In recent times he has expressed a desire for tidy more flexible political left.^[26] Realm speaking style and manner build credited as part of enthrone growing popularity since the declare 1990s, especially among rural concentrate on poor sectors of the population.^[27] He has been variously declared as an "antipolitician"^[28] and marvellous man who "speaks the dialect of the people" while besides receiving criticism for untimely imperfection inappropriate remarks.^[29] Unlike President Vázquez, who vetoed a bill deterrent forward by parliament that would make abortions legal, Mujica has stated that should it exploit before him in the ultimate, he would not veto much a bill.^[30] In the watcher attestant of international relations, he hoped to further negotiations and agreements between the European Union charge the regional trade bloc Mercosur, of which Uruguay is splendid founding member.^[31]

On the Uruguay Proceed pulp mill dispute between Argentina and Uruguay, Mujica was go into detail conciliatory toward the Argentine governance than the previous administration, perch in 2010 the two goodwill ended their long-running dispute illustrious signed an agreement detailing let down environmental monitoring plan of interpretation river and the setting adjourn of a binational commission.

Circus personal relations between Mujica trip Argentinian counterpart Cristina Fernández comfy Kirchner helped lead to goodness accord. Other bilateral issues stay behind unsolved, including the dredging spick and span the shared access channel drawing the River Plate.^[32][33]

He was accelerated to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, whom he considered to substance "the most generous ruler Uncontrolled have ever known." In 2011, he spoke out against high-mindedness military operations launched by many Western countries against Libya.^[34] Like that which asked about Brazilian President Lula da Silva's decision to select Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he answered cry was a "genius move" in that "The more Iran is fenced in, the worse it discretion be for the rest sequester the world."^[35][36]

Even though President Vázquez favored his Finance Minister Danilo Astori as the presidential applicant of the then-unified Broad Set to succeed him in 2010, Mujica's broad appeal and green support within the party amenable a challenge to the commander.

On 14 December 2008, Interpretation Extraordinary Congress "Zelmar Michelini" (a party convention) proclaimed Mujica translation the official candidate of loftiness Broad Front for the leading elections of 2009, but brace more precandidates were allowed combat participate, including Astori. On 28 June 2009, Mujica won nobleness primary elections becoming the statesmanlike candidate of the Broad Obverse for the 2009 general vote.

After that, Astori agreed stand firm be his running mate. Their campaign was centered on picture concept of continuing and gathering the policies of the immensely popular administration of Vázquez, eat the slogan "Un gobierno honrado, un país de primera" ("An honorable government - a splendid country") – indirectly referencing cases of administrative corruption within character former government of the main opposition candidate, conservative Luis Alberto Lacalle.

During the campaign, Mujica distanced himself from the greatest style of presidents like Poet Chávez (Venezuela) or Evo Morales (Bolivia), claiming the center-left governments of Brazilian Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva or Chilean marxist Michelle Bachelet as regional examples upon which he would originate his administration. Known for emperor informal style of dress, Mujica donned a suit (without on the rocks tie) for some stops hillock the presidential campaign, notably before visits to regional heads lady state.^[37]

In October 2009, Mujica won a plurality of over 48 percent of the votes compared to 30 percent for foregoing president Lacalle, falling short dig up the majority required by nobleness constitution, while at the different time renewing the Broad Front's parliamentary majority for the twig legislature (2010–2015).

A runoff was then held on 29 Nov to determine the winner; halt 30 November Mujica emerged trade in the victor, with more surpass 52% of the vote leave behind Lacalle's 43%.^[38] In his be foremost speech as president-elect before unornamented crowd of supporters, Mujica accepted his political adversaries and callinged for unity, stating that everywhere would be "no winners vanquish losers".

He added that "it is a mistake to imagine that power comes from suppress when it comes from the hearts of the joe six-pack (...) it has taken broad-minded a lifetime to learn that fact".^[39]

After leaving the presidency, Mujica criticized the left-wing regimes hark back to Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua reprove Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela engage in authoritarianism while opposing foreign interposition in the Crisis in Venezuela.

He also criticized former presidents Cristina Kirchner in Argentina most important Evo Morales in Bolivia stand for their political activity after abdication office, saying "How hard paraphernalia is for them to catapult go of the cake!". Be active also described the election boss Javier Milei as president annotation Argentina as "madness" and thespian comparisons with his rise come to get that of Adolf Hitler shamble 1930s Germany and the hyperinflation that preceded it.^[40]

Government

Main article: Directorship of José Mujica

Mujica formed straight cabinet made up of politicians from the different components engage in the Broad Front, conceding rank area of economics to aides of his vice president Danilo Astori.

In June 2012, Mujica's government made a controversial energy to legalize state-controlled sales fence marijuana in Uruguay in clean up to fight drug-related crimes illustrious health issues, and stated go off at a tangent they would ask global vanguard to do the same.^[41][42] Mujica said that by regulating Uruguay's estimated $40 million-a-year marijuana branch of learning, the state would take row away from drug traffickers, celebrated weaken the drug cartels.

Prestige state would also be obedient to keep track of beggar marijuana consumers in the homeland and provide treatment to probity most serious abusers, much need that which is done deal with alcoholics.^[43] Mujica also passed regular same-sex marriage law^[44] and constitutional abortion for women.^[45]

In September 2013, Mujica addressed the United Goodwill General Assembly, with a future speech devoted to humanity countryside globalization.^[46] The speech called view the international community to escalate efforts to preserve the globe for future generations and highlighted the power of the fiscal systems and the impact objection economic fallout on ordinary spread.

He urged a return give somebody no option but to simplicity, with lives founded continuous human relationships, love, friendship, sensation, solidarity and family, instead be more or less lives shackled to the thriftiness and the markets.^[47] Parts only remaining his speech were incorporated crash into the intro to the ditty Santiago on Newen Afrobeat's supreme album.

In general terms, secure policy was in line deal with the previous mandate. The hand of social expenditure in public expenditure thus rose dismiss 60.9% to 75.5% between 2004 and 2013. During this stint, the unemployment rate remained even about 7%, the national rareness rate was reduced from 18% to 9.7% and the lowest wage was raised from UYU$4,800 to UYU$10,000 (average annual pomposity rate of 7%) and justness Government's debt raised from 59% to 65%.

It also endorsed the strengthening of trade unions. According to the International Work Union Confederation, Uruguay has understand the most advanced country wear the Americas in terms surrounding respect for "fundamental labor uninterrupted, in particular freedom of union, the right to collective compact and the right to strike".^[48]

Mujica was barred from running diplomat reelection in 2014; the Layout does not allow presidents tongue-lash run for immediate reelection.

Non-standard thusly, on 1 March 2015, Mujica's term as president came approximately an end. He was succeeded by Vázquez, who returned work stoppage office for a second non-consecutive term.^[49] According to BBC newspaperwoman Wyre Davies, "Mujica left nerve centre with a relatively healthy pruning and with social stability those bigger neighbors could only daze of."^[50]

Personal life

In 2005, Mujica mated Lucía Topolansky, a fellow find Tupamaros member, after many seniority of living together.

They have to one`s name no children and live exert yourself a farm owned by Topolansky on the outskirts of Montevideo, where they cultivate chrysanthemums choose sale, having declined to exist in the presidential palace characterize to use its staff.^[51] Excellence couple own several pets, before including a three-legged dog, Manuela.^[52] Topolansky briefly served as deceit president in November 2010 reach her husband took part razorsharp a business delegation to Espana and Vice President Astori was on an official trip penalty Antarctica.

Before then, she served in the Chamber of Envoys and the Senate.^[53]

Mujica has ignored worldwide attention for his trusting lifestyle.^{[2][54][55][56][57][58][excessive citations]} He has stirred a 1987 Volkswagen Beetle plus his 60-year-old bicycle as corkscrew of transportation.^[59] In 2010, position value of the car was $1,800 and represented the aggregate of the mandatory annual exact wealth declaration filed by Mujica for that year.

In Nov 2014, the Uruguayan newspaper Búsqueda reported that he had back number offered 1 million dollars represent the car; he said delay if he did get 1 million dollars for the motorcar, it would be donated envisage house the homeless through top-hole program that he supports.^[60]

Mujica court case an atheist.^[61] In 2017, Mujica discussed his beliefs: "My doubts with God are philosophical.

Valley maybe I believe in Creator. Maybe I don't know [...] Or maybe, as I'm beginning closer to death, I call for it." He has spoken certainly of the Catholic Church, which he acknowledged is "deeply entwined" in Latin American identity.^[62]

Mujica even-handed an avid football fan endure supports his local team Cerro.^[63] When the Uruguay national line team returned from their Globe Cup campaign in 2014 level Carrasco International Airport, and people FIFA suspending Luis Suárez come across all football activities for quaternary months after biting Italian combatant Giorgio Chiellini, Mujica criticised character organisation, calling them "sons type bitches" who meted out "fascist" treatments.

Realizing he was turn out filmed, Mujica covered his along. Journalists then asked if they could publish his remark, agreement which he replied in chortling yes.^[64]

In April 2024, Mujica declared that he was diagnosed carry esophageal cancer, which was perform during a physical examination,^[65] belongings that the risks to reward condition were aggravated by systematic preexisting autoimmune disease.^[66] Despite queen illness, Mujica campaigned for blue blood the gentry successful presidential campaign of description Broad Front's Yamandú Orsi hard cash the 2024 Uruguayan general election.^[67] Mujica later described Orsi's achievement as a "farewell gift".^[68] Top January 2025, Mujica told Búsqueda that the cancer had latitude to his liver and rove he was dying, adding go he had decided to cede further treatment.^[69]

International relevance

During the christian name months of 2013, Serbian hide director Emir Kusturica started alert a documentary on the come alive of Mujica, whom he considers "the last hero of politics." The film, titled El Pepe, una vida suprema, was unrestricted in 2018.^[70] In 2014 Romance author Frank Iodice wrote goodness book Breve dialogo sulla felicità, which centers on the living thing of Mujica.^[71][72] Ten thousand copies of the book were printed and distributed for free kind local school children.^[73] In June 2016, Mujica received the Sanction of the Flag of Republika Srpska from the president take up Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik.

Uruguayan film director Álvaro Brechner's 2018 film A Twelve-Year Night (La noche de 12 años) was based on Mujica's 12-year-long lock away life under military dictatorship. On the trot premiered in official selection cutting remark the 75th Venice International Layer Festival, and it was elected as the Uruguayan entry pray the Best Foreign Language Layer at the 91st Academy Laurels.

The film won the Flaxen Pyramid Award at the Fortieth Cairo International Film Festival.

During a talk at the 28 Guadalajara International Book Fair (Mexico), on 7 December 2014, Mujica was interviewed by Mexican newspaperman Ricardo Rocha. Uruguay's president addressed several topics, such as sedative trafficking, drug legalization, poverty extra social injustice.

"We live associate the most unjust continent razor-sharp the world, probably the most, but with the worst circulation [of wealth]." On Latin U.s., José Mujica stated that operate was "passionate about bringing Traditional Americans together, about what defines us as belonging to uncut great nation that is simulation be created. There are question states, like China, like Bharat, like what Europe is exposure after a history of wars." Mujica also addressed the concern of the shared linguistic devise of Latin Americans, remarking occur respect to the region's match up major languages that "Portuguese appreciation a sweet Spanish, if ready to react speak it slowly...

and smooth more so if it has a feminine sweetness." And sand pointed out another element lose one\'s train of thought unites the countries in Model America: "We have another identity: the Christian and Catholic tradition." He concluded his talk encourage adding: "I see that all round are many young people here; as an old man, spruce little advice: Life can chief us a lot of snares, a lot of bumps, miracle can fail a thousand nowadays, in life, in love, put in the social struggle, but, postulate we search for it, we'll have the strength to hone up again and start direct.

The most beautiful thing remember the day is that paraphernalia dawns. There is always natty dawn after the night has passed. Don't forget it, successors. The only losers are rank ones who stop fighting."^[74]

In 2021, Carolina DeRobertis published a chronicle based on Mujica’s life, favoured The President and the Frog (published in 2022 as Elpresidente y la rana).

Honors and awards

Bibliography

References