JOSÉ "Pepe" Mujica, the former president of Uruguay, passed away on May 13, 2025, at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife, Lucía Topolansky, a fellow former guerrilla and senator. Mujica’s life was a remarkable journey – from guerrilla fighter to becoming a president, from years of solitary confinement to earning global recognition as a man of the masses. The Latin America he once led, and the Latin America he leaves behind, are not the same. 

Mujica was born on May 20, 1935, in Montevideo, Uruguay, into a middle-class family. After losing his father at the age of eight, he was forced to take up odd jobs to support himself. He delivered bread and sold flowers. His fondness for flowers continued till his end – he had a home garden where he grew chrysanthemums, with great love and care!

Initially, he had a brief stint with the centre-right National Party but soon became disillusioned with its politics and was searching for alternatives. The Cuban Revolution of 1959 deeply inspired him. At the age of 27, in 1962, Mujica co-founded the Tupamaros National Liberation Movement (MLN-T). It was a guerrilla movement that sought to overthrow the authoritarian regime in Uruguay.

During his revolutionary activities, Mujica was captured four times, survived six gunshot wounds, escaped from the prison twice, and endured long years of incarceration. Under the military dictatorship, he was brutally tortured and spent 14 years in prison, including 10 years in solitary confinement at the bottom of a well. He was released in 1985 after the fall of the dictatorship and as part of a general amnesty granted to guerrilla fighters.

FROM SENATE TO PRESIDENCY

After his release, Mujica renounced armed struggle and turned towards democratic politics. He joined the Movement of Popular Participation (MPP), which he had co-founded, as part of the left-wing Broad Front (Frente Amplio). He was elected to the Chamber of Representatives in 1994 and later to the Senate. As a parliamentarian, he was widely respected as a principled leader who lived a life of simplicity and integrity.

In 2009, Mujica was elected president on behalf of the Frente Amplio. He refused to reside in the presidential palace, choosing instead to live in his modest, tin-roofed dilapidated house on the outskirts of the capital city Montevideo. He donated 90 per cent of his presidential salary to charity, stating, “Politicians should live like their people, not like a privileged minority.”  

During his presidency (2010-2015), Mujica implemented a series of measures for the transformation of Uruguay. Wages were regularly increased; the number of people in poverty was reduced by half; poverty rate fell to 7 per cent; unemployment was reduced significantly, and GDP grew by nearly 5.4 per cent. He legalised abortion, responding to a long-standing demand of the women’s movement, and introduced State regulation of marijuana, effectively sidelining drug cartels.

Mujica implemented these progressive policies without adhering to the neoliberal prescription of keeping the ‘fiscal deficit under control’. A staunch opponent of neoliberalism and its emphasis on hyper-consumerism, he once remarked, “The poor are those who endlessly chase more.” He was also a strong advocate for environmentally sustainable development and action against climate change. Today, Uruguay is one of the most environmentally friendly nations in the world, generating 98 per cent of its electricity from biomass, solar, and wind energy. 

When Mujica left office, he enjoyed a 60 per cent approval rating. As Uruguayan law forbids consecutive presidential terms, he did not contest again and continued to serve as a senator until 2020. Throughout, he remained a steadfast advocate for Latin American unity. His voice strengthened the other Left, progressive alternative voices across the continent.

In 2024, Mujica was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Despite his illness, he campaigned for Yamandú Orsi, who was elected as the president in 2024. In January 2025, Mujica chose to forego further treatment, stating, “A warrior has the right to rest.”

His death was mourned by leaders across Latin America and by people around the world. Mujica leaves behind a towering legacy of pro-poor, pro-working class politics. His simplicity, empathy, incorruptibility, and unwavering commitment to justice earned him deep respect. Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, called Mujica “an example for Latin America and the entire world.” Chilean President Gabriel Boric said, “If you left us anything, it was the unquenchable hope that things can be done better. The unwavering conviction that as long as our hearts beat and there is injustice in the world, it’s worth continuing to fight.”

LATIN AMERICA TODAY

Latin America today is going through turbulent times, as the “hope that things can be done better” is now under challenge. For instance, the Chilean government led by Gabriel Boric – elected amid high expectations and propelled by a wave of popular struggles – is facing a severe crisis. People are not happy, with many feeling that Boric is not living up to his mandate. The progressive constitution drafted by the Constituent Assembly was rejected in a national referendum, and the subsequent draft, still under preparation, does not instill confidence.

In Bolivia, the Movement for Socialism (MAS) is going through serious divisions within its ranks. Former President Evo Morales has been sidelined by current President Luis Arce. Presidential elections are scheduled for August, and MAS has nominated Eduardo del Castillo as its candidate. Morales, is challenging this and intends to file his nomination, though the constitution bars more than two presidential terms. He recently led a massive march of indigenous people and farmers from across the country to the capital, which was met with police repression, including the use of tear gas. This division within the strong and most popular Left force in Bolivia is ominous.

In Ecuador, State institutions are being used to weaken Left movements. In the recent presidential elections held on April 14, the Citizen Revolution’s candidate Luisa González was widely expected to win, with most opinion and exit polls predicting her victory. However, amid allegations of fraud during polling and counting, right-wing candidate Daniel Noboa was declared the winner. Since the presidency of Lenín Moreno – who turned against the Left – there has been a systematic and targeted attack on the Left.

In Brazil, we notice an ascendancy of the right-wing forces. Far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro has already served one term as president and continues to influence the political landscape. In Argentina, the government is now led by Javier Milei, another far-right figure.

Clearly, the Latin America that was once governed by a wave of Leftist governments during Mujica’s time is not the same Latin America we see today.

Of course, all is not lost. For the first time in its history, Colombia has a Left president. In Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, another Left representative, has been elected president. In Honduras, too, a Left leader, Xiomara Castro, holds the presidency. This is in addition to Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, who has once again been re-elected. The true Left is fighting and actively resisting the onslaught of the ruling classes. They are mobilising people around key issues, such as the struggle for working-class rights in Argentina, and are exposing those who have betrayed the movement. It is only through sustained struggle that we can hope to see the re-emergence of a revolutionary Left.

In the midst of all this turbulence, Cuba stands firm as a beacon of hope and resistance. Despite facing immense challenges – tightening of the embargo under the Trump administration, its designation as a ‘State sponsoring terrorism’, and ongoing crises involving electricity, food, fuel, and medicines – Cuba remains committed to socialism. The Communist Party of Cuba and the government continue to stay close to the people, explaining the roots of the crisis, involving citizens in decision-making, and strengthening collective resistance.

Cuba exemplifies what Mujica once said: “Happiness is only real when shared.” It has shared its doctors, medical expertise, and limited resources generously with the world – an act of genuine internationalism. Mujica always stood with Cuba, whose revolution had inspired and transformed his life.

To reclaim the Latin America of Mujica’s dreams, we must, as Gabriel Boric said, “continue the fight with unwavering conviction as long as our hearts beat and there is injustice in the world.” Cuba is doing it. The true Left is doing it. Let us hope that those who are faltering will find their footing, unite, and join this mighty struggle.

Hasta La Victoria Siempre.