Thousands Mourn José Mujica in Montevideo Procession \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Uruguayans flooded the streets of Montevideo to honor former President José “Pepe” Mujica, who died at 89, days before his 90th birthday. Revered worldwide for his humility and progressive leadership, Mujica was laid in state at the nation’s parliament. His legacy as a guerrilla-turned-president who legalized marijuana and same-sex marriage transcends political lines.
Quick Looks
- José Mujica died Tuesday at 89, days before his birthday.
- Massive crowds joined a funeral procession in Montevideo on Wednesday.
- Mujica lived modestly on a farm even during his presidency.
- His coffin was carried on a gun carriage to parliament.
- Uruguay declared three days of national mourning, flags at half-staff.
- Funeral attended by citizens, lawmakers, rivals, and global leaders.
- Known for legalizing marijuana, same-sex marriage, and abortion rights.
- Transformed Uruguay into one of Latin America’s most liberal democracies.
- Mujica was a former guerrilla and prisoner before presidency.
- Lucía Topolansky, his partner and fellow ex-rebel, led tributes.
- President Yamandú Orsi, Mujica’s protégé, led the national homage.
- Former rivals praised Mujica’s dignity and spirit of reconciliation.
Deep Look
Uruguay Bids Farewell to José Mujica, the Humble Revolutionary Who Redefined Leadership
José “Pepe” Mujica, the flower farmer-turned-president who left an indelible mark on Uruguay and inspired progressives around the world, was laid to rest in Montevideo on Wednesday amid an outpouring of grief, admiration, and gratitude. He died Tuesday at the age of 89, just days shy of his 90th birthday.
Thousands gathered in Uruguay’s capital, packing the streets as Mujica’s flag-draped coffin was transported on a gun carriage through the city’s historic center. The procession, which ended at the Legislative Palace, was both a public tribute and a national catharsis — a celebration of a man who, despite wielding immense political power, lived in a humble farmhouse and rejected personal luxury.
“Farewell, Pepe” was scrawled across government buildings and banners, while mourners applauded from balconies, sobbed quietly on sidewalks, and lined up for hours to pay their respects inside parliament.
A Leader Who Chose Simplicity Over Power
Mujica’s presidency (2010–2015) defied expectations. He refused to live in Uruguay’s presidential palace, instead commuting from his modest home on the outskirts of Montevideo, where he continued to cultivate chrysanthemums and donate most of his salary to charity.
Even as president, he kept his beat-up Volkswagen Beetle and wore worn jackets. His speeches — often unscripted and filled with reflections on materialism, justice, and purpose — turned him into a global moral authority, earning admiration far beyond Uruguay’s borders.
A Radical Turned Reformer
Mujica’s story is the stuff of legend: a revolutionary fighter in the Tupamaros guerrilla movement in the 1960s, he survived imprisonment, torture, and solitary confinement during Uruguay’s military dictatorship. After democracy was restored in 1985, Mujica chose politics over insurgency, eventually becoming president and reshaping the country through landmark reforms.
His administration passed the region’s most comprehensive abortion rights law, legalized marijuana, championed same-sex marriage, and invested heavily in renewable energy — policies that helped make Uruguay one of the most socially liberal countries in Latin America.
Tributes Across Ideological Lines
Though Mujica led from the left, the final tributes on Wednesday revealed how widely his legacy was respected. Former conservative presidents, including Luis Alberto Lacalle de Herrera and Julio María Sanguinetti, offered heartfelt reflections.
“We had many disagreements, but it’s better to focus on what united us,” Lacalle said. Sanguinetti, now 89, called Mujica “a fellow traveler of history” and praised his ability to reconcile with former enemies.
Political adversaries joined everyday Uruguayans at the Legislative Palace, queuing solemnly to pay their final respects. “It’s like losing a family member,” said Estela Piriz, a 69-year-old nurse. “He was one of us.”
A Nation in Mourning
President Yamandú Orsi, a longtime Mujica protégé and member of the leftist Broad Front party, declared three days of national mourning. Public offices were shuttered, flags lowered, and tributes broadcast nationwide.
Alongside Mujica’s wife, Lucía Topolansky — also a former guerrilla and senator — Orsi led the procession from government headquarters. The pair stood solemnly as Mujica’s coffin was brought into the grand hall of the Legislative Palace. Topolansky, visibly shaken, declined to speak to reporters, her grief echoing across a country in mourning.
Orsi has followed in Mujica’s footsteps, rejecting the trappings of power and campaigning on a platform of justice, equality, and moderation. Mujica remained politically active until the end, recently endorsing Orsi in national elections and urging the next generation to carry forward the values of dialogue and humility.
The End of an Era, The Birth of a Legacy
From bank robber and rebel to president and philosopher, Mujica’s transformation mirrors Uruguay’s journey from dictatorship to democracy. His life embodied contradictions — militant and peacemaker, radical and reformer — yet his principles remained constant: honesty, compassion, and a deep belief in the dignity of all people.
Beatriz Benzano, a former activist who worked alongside Mujica during the country’s democratic transition, remembered a man who never stopped evolving. “He believed in handing over the torch,” she said. “He knew that revolutions must lead to reconciliation.”
Mujica’s state funeral is set for Thursday and will draw regional leaders such as Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Chile’s President Gabriel Boric — both of whom credit Mujica with inspiring their own political journeys.
A Lasting Example
As Uruguayans continue to mourn, Mujica’s example remains etched into the national consciousness. In a world often dominated by performative politics and wealth-driven leadership, his life offered an alternative — one built on values, not vanity.
He may have died, but as one mourner scrawled on a tribute outside parliament: “Pepe didn’t belong to one party. He belonged to all of us.”
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