Hasta Siempre José Mujica

I'm writing this blog out of my utter respect and admiration for "Pepe" José “Pepe” Mujica and my aspiration to have politicians like him running my country, Lebanon. Uruguay this week bade farewell to José “Pepe” Mujica, the ex-guerrilla who became the world’s most admired “poorest president,” passing on 13 May 2025 at 89 after a struggle with cancer. His presidency (2010-2015) left a footprint far wider than his country’s three million inhabitants. By legalising abortion (2012), same-sex marriage (2013) and the state-regulated sale of cannabis (2013), he placed Uruguay at the vanguard of Latin-American social rights (I am praising these action though i don't agree fully with liberal policies) Poverty was halved and extreme poverty virtually erased as real wages rose and foreign investment surged. Simultaneously, a bold push into wind and solar meant that by 2015, roughly 95 % of Uruguay’s electricity came from renewables, slashing both costs and carbon.

Mujica showed that power and personal austerity can coexist: he refused the presidential palace, drove a battered 1987 VW Beetle and donated around 90 % of his salary to housing programs. His plain-spoken style transcended party lines, helping steer progressive reform without polarising. Economic prudence, taming inflation and keeping debt low meant generosity in rights did not translate into fiscal recklessness. 

Mujica reminded the world that legislation reflects the moral imagination of those who craft it. His ability to couple conviction with consensus proved that radical empathy can be electorally viable and administratively effective. At a moment when cynicism corrodes faith in institutions, his life argues for leaders whose personal ethics mirror their public agenda. From Montevideo to Beirut, future decision-makers can draw on the “Pepe” template: live simply, speak honestly, and govern boldly. Measure success not by GDP alone, but by every citizen's dignity.