José Mujica, former President of Uruguay, passed away at the age of 89 on the 13th (local time).
Former President Mujica had been battling esophageal cancer since April last year. In January of this year, he decided to stop cancer treatment, stating, “It seems my body cannot withstand the situation as the cancer has metastasized to the liver.” Subsequently, he lived in a suburban home with his wife, Lucía Topolansky, where he occasionally received visitors.
Mujica, president of a small country with a population of only 3.4 million, gained global fame during his tenure from 2010 to 2015 when he was dubbed “the world’s most humble president.” His monthly salary at the time was reported to be around $12,000 (about 13 million won), of which he donated 90%. Upon his inauguration in 2010, he declared assets worth $1,800 (about 1.95 million won). He even sold the presidential villa by the beach after taking office. During his presidency, Mujica resided in a small farmhouse on the outskirts of the capital, Montevideo, instead of the official residence.
His modest lifestyle and candid, human demeanor became topics of interest, leading to curiosity about the Volkswagen Beetle he drove for 20 years. Even after becoming president, he commuted with the Volkswagen, which became a symbol of his simple life.
After retirement, his assets were limited to his home and the old Beetle. When the car attracted attention, an affluent Arab offered to buy the Beetle for $1 million (about 1.38 billion won) in November 2014, but Mujica declined, saying, “I am uncomfortable with the attention to my car.” The interest in Mujica’s car did not end there. Felipe Henríquez, then Mexican Ambassador to Uruguay, proposed exchanging the Beetle for 10 new 4WD pickup trucks, but the deal did not happen. Ambassador Henríquez explained his proposal by expressing his genuine respect for Mujica, citing his consideration for the poor and humanistic values.
This approach to life resonated deeply with people worldwide. As president, Mujica achieved significant accomplishments. He maintained practical economic policies, legalized same-sex marriage and abortion, and accepted Syrian refugees and Guantanamo inmates. During his presidency, Uruguay continued to grow, with increased national income and significantly reduced poverty and unemployment rates. His approval rating was 65% at the time of his retirement, and he was a Nobel Peace Prize nominee in 2013 and 2014.
After retiring from the presidency, Mujica continued his political career in the Senate but left politics in 2020 when he resigned as a lawmaker.
He was also recognized for captivating audiences with his distinctive eloquence. Remarks like “Life does not have a price tag, so I am not poor,” “Power cannot change a person; it merely reveals their true self,” “We are destroying real forests and creating anonymous concrete jungles,” and “The only healthy addiction is love” are still widely quoted.