José ‘Pepe’ Mujica,the former President of Uruguay and iconic leader of the Latin American left, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 89, following a battle with oesophageal cancer that led to him receiving palliative care in final days.
With his death, Uruguay bids farewell to not just a political leader bid farewell, but a symbol of coherence, austerity and deep transformation, whose influence extends far beyond the Banda Oriental.
Mujica governed Uruguay from 2010 to 2015 under the banner of the Frente Amplio coalition, a period that marked a turning point in the country’s recent history.
Under his leadership, Uruguay made international headlines for achieving an economic miracle without shocks, for legalising cannabis as a measure to combat drug-trafficking and for approving same-sex l marriage – consolidating an unprecedented advance of rights in the region.
‘Economic miracle’
In contrast to the stereotype of a populist leader of the Ibero-American left, Mujica oversaw one of the most stable and equitable economic processes in Latin America. During his presidency, GDP grew by 75 percent, unemployment dropped to a historic 5.6 percent and poverty fell from 40 percent to 12 percent.
“It wasn’t magic,” some might say, but in Mujica’s case, it was part of a strategy rooted in his electoral base: increasing the real minimum wage (by over 54 percent), expanding social spending, boosting public investment and implementing a redistribution model that placed the State at the centre of welfare provision.
Uruguay achieved 16 consecutive years of uninterrupted growth – despite regional crises – and became the most equitable country on the continent, with a marked reduction in the Gini inequality index. The International Trade Union Confederation recognised Uruguay as the “most advanced” country in the Americas in terms of labour rights.
Mujica, who donated the majority of his presidential salary to good causes, embodied the conviction that politics should “serve the people, not be a way to make money.” From his chacra rather than the presidential palace, he governed with unusual closeness to the public, defying traditional power structures.
Legalising marijuana
Perhaps Mujica’s boldest – and most debated – measure was the legalisation of cannabis in 2013, which set a global precedent. He made Uruguay the first country in the world to regulate the production, distribution and sale of marijuana via the State.
The goal? To undercut the drug trade – a scourge plaguing Uruguayan society at the time – and to treat consumption as a public health issue rather than a criminal matter.
The approach was comprehensive: controlled access via pharmacies, cannabis clubs and voluntary registration schemes. Years later, the results are clear: a decline in the illegal market, better quality control, the development of a medicinal cannabis industry and the opening of new scientific and employment opportunities.
“Politics means taking risks for the good of society,” Mujica said at the time, challenging more critical conservative sectors. For Mujica, fighting drug-trafficking wasn’t about militarising neighbourhoods – it was about cutting off their sources of funding.
Equal rights
Mujica’s second major legacy would push Uruguay to the global forefront of human rights. In 2012, the voluntary termination of pregnancy (IVE) was legalised up to 12 weeks of gestation. The policy led to zero deaths from clandestine abortions and the lowest maternal mortality rate on the continent.
That same year, the country passed the Equal Marriage Act, recognising the right of same-sex couples to marry on equal terms. Mujica justified the reform in his trademark direct style: “We’ve decided to accept the existence of reality,” he said at the time.
For many, these reforms established Uruguay as a progressive beacon in the region. For others, they were evidence of courageous leadership that didn’t seek applause but social progress.
Mujica also planted the seeds for long-term policies. He launched Plan Juntos, which built over 15,000 homes for people in critical need. He championed the creation of the Universidad Tecnológica (UTEC) scheme, providing access to tertiary education in the country’s interior.
He also transformed Uruguay’s energy matrix: over 90 percent of the country’s electricity began to come from renewable sources during his government. Uruguay became a global model for clean energy, reducing its dependence on oil and exporting surplus electricity to neighbouring countries.
Legacy
Mujica’s image transcended borders, partly because of his austere lifestyle. His light blue Volkswagen Beetle, rural home, simple language and philosophical soundbites made him a global phenomenon. But that image was never a façade – it was the outward expression of deep inner consistency.
“Power lies in the heart of the great masses,” he often said, making clear that true leadership is built through service, not privilege.
Even in retirement, he remained active in public life as the moral compass of the Frente Amplio, now led by his political heir, President Yamandú Orsi.
Mujica left office with a 63 percent approval rating and a lasting legacy. His impact was not merely economic or legislative – it was, above all, ethical. He governed as he lived: without pretence. He proved that politics can be a tool for transformation, provided it is practised with honesty.
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