José “Pepe” Mujica didn’t profit the presidential residence with three tales of Uruguay, together with his candlesticks, elevator, marble stairs and Louis XV furnishings.
“That is why he,” he informed me final yr.
“They need to make it an institute.”
So when he took over the presidency of his small South America nation in 2010, Mujica determined to journey from his dwelling day by day:
A messy three bed room hut the dimensions of a mono -environment, with a range of firewood, cabinets filled with books and jars with pickled greens.
Earlier than his demise on Tuesday, Mujica lived there for many years together with her lifetime of a life, Lucia TopoLansky Beneath Vice President -and her three -tie whores, Manuela.
They cultivated chrysanthemums to promote them in native markets and developed their Beetle Volkswagen Blue Sky of 1987 of their favourite tango bars.
There isn’t a motive, he mentioned, in order that A brand new job require a motion.
This meant that, after sitting subsequent to Barack Obama Within the Oval Workplace or to offer conferences to world leaders on the risks of capitalism within the United Nations, Mujica would fly dwelling in a vacationer class in the direction of a life just like that of that of A poor farmer.
Stamp
It was a political grasp recreation.
His presidency didn’t obtain all his financial aims.
However his harsh way of life made him honored by many Uruguayan to reside like them as he gave a platform within the worldwide press to warn that breakdown I used to be eroding society.
He insisted it actually was how he needed to reside, but additionally admitted that he served as an instance that politicians had been in a state of affairs for a very long time Very favorable.
“We now have carried out our greatest to make the presidency much less honored,” Mujica informed my ancestor in South America, Simón RomeroIn 2013, whereas sharing with him a partner, the natural drink that was exchanged within the conversations of this a part of the world.
José Mujica and his everlasting associate, Lucía TopoLansky, at dwelling final yr. Mrs. TopoLansky was Uruguay’s vp. Galdieri photograph for the New York InstancesI visited Mujica in the identical home final yr.
It was heat with a winter coat and a wool hat in entrance of a wooden, the delicate range and will barely eat resulting from radiotherapy from a tumor to the esophagus.
However in entrance of a journalist who might unfold his Ideas for the worldPossibly for the final time he stored me IN For almost two hours, exposing themselves the best way to discover the aim and wonder in life and the way, he spontaneously informed me, “Humanity, as it’s, is doomed.”
He additionally defined why he believed that the luxurious of electoral positions – palaces, servants, luxurious planes – have been the alternative of what democracy must be.
“The cultural clothes of feudalism proceed inside the Republic. The crimson carpet, the bugles when the feudal man left the fortress on the bridge. All of this stays,” he mentioned.
“The president likes to reward him.”
He recalled a go to to Germany being president.
“They climbed me to a Mercedes-Benz. The door weighed about three,000 kilos. They positioned 40 bikes forward and 40 extra behind, ”he mentioned.
The worldwide press was named “the poorest president on the planet”, stating that his internet property have been $ 1,800 once they took the place.
Mujica disgusts the nickname and infrequently quoted the thinker of the Roman court docket, Senecs:
“It isn’t weak that there’s little however the one you need for it.”
It will be troublesome to discover a extra pronounced distinction with the president Donald Trumpwho has made his life a wealthy component of his id.
In our interview, three months earlier than the election, Mujica repeatedly talked about Trump.
“It appears a lie nation like the USA has a candidate like Trump,” he mentioned.
“Democracy on the top of a Felpudo”.
Mujica entered politics within the 1960s as a leftist guerrilla devoted to the theft of banks.
His group, Tupamaro, grew to become well-known for his violence.
Mujica mentioned they tried to keep away from inflicting injury to the civilian inhabitants, however added that the left struggle typically required the usage of power.
The three -bedroom home of Mujica. He prevented the Presidential Palace in favor of dwelling right here. Galdieri photograph for the New York InstancesAfter escaping from jail twice he was Prisoner Beneath the Uruguayan navy dictatorship and spent most of his sentence in isolation.
Trapped in a gap within the floor, he mentioned, grew to become Mice and a verse to outlive psychologically.
He was launched when Uruguay restored democracy and eventually chosen for the Congress, drawing consideration to work in A vesspa.
In 2009, voters have been elected president of the nation of three.three million inhabitants.
With Mujica, Uruguay decriminalized abortion, legalized equal marriage, promoted renewable power and have become the primary nation to totally legalize Dop.
Nevertheless, lots of its aims, equivalent to the numerous discount of inequality and the advance of training, have been affected by political realities.
However when the information of his demise is spreading on Tuesday, individuals from all around the world remembered it not for his insurance policies.
His humility was his legacy.
Earl this yr, his political protected, former instructor of historical past Yamandú oriassumed Uruguay’s presidency.
He has traveled in his work from his household’s home, and Uruguay’s presidential residence has remained just about empty.
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