José Mujica

José was a leader in Uruguay.

He was a farmer too. He worked with plants and animals.

Long ago, things were very hard for him. He was treated unfairly for many years.

Later, he became the president of his land. He helped make new laws.

He lived a very simple life. He gave much of his money to help others. He was a kind leader.

José Mujica was a leader in Uruguay.

He was also a farmer. He grew up in a family that worked the land.

In the 1960s, José joined a group called the Tupamaros. They were a political group. During a time of military rule, José was arrested. He spent 13 years in prison. Life in prison was very hard for him. He even spent time in a large horse trough.

After democracy returned, he was set free.

José worked in many roles. He was a senator and a minister. In 2009, he won an election to be president. He led Uruguay from 2010 to 2015. He made many new laws. These laws helped people marry same-sex partners. He also changed laws about marijuana and abortion.

People called him "the world's poorest president." He did not live in a big palace. He lived a very simple life. He gave about 90 percent of his pay to charity. He wanted to help people with very little money. He believed people should focus on love and family instead of things.

José Mujica was a famous leader from Uruguay.

He was a politician, a farmer, and a revolutionary. He served as the 40th president of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015. People around the world knew him for his very simple way of living. He did not want a fancy life with many things. Instead, he believed that happiness comes from people and love. He often gave most of his money to help others.

His life was not always easy or peaceful. In the mid-1960s, he joined a group called the Tupamaros. This was a far-left political group. During the 1970s and 1980s, Uruguay was under a military dictatorship. Mujica was captured by the authorities several times. He spent 13 years in prison during this time.

He even spent more than two years in a large, empty horse-watering trough. These years were very hard for his health and his mind.

After democracy returned to Uruguay in 1985, Mujica was finally set free. He began to work in politics again. He joined a group called the Broad Front. He was elected as a deputy in 1994. Later, he became a senator in 1999. In 2005, he served as the Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries.

He used his experience as a farmer to help lead this department. He worked hard to prepare for higher leadership.

In 2009, Mujica ran for president. He won a big election against Luis Alberto Lacalle. He took office on March 1, 2010. During his time as president, he passed many new laws. He helped make same-sex marriage legal in Uruguay. He also changed laws about abortion and marijuana. He wanted to make the country fairer for everyone. His government also helped workers by raising minimum wages.

Many people called him "the world's poorest president." This was because of how he spent his money. He earned about US$12,000 every month as president. However, he gave around 90 percent of that to charity. He used the money to help people with low incomes. He also helped small business owners. He lived a life that focused on simplicity and helping his community.

José Alberto "Pepe" Mujica Cordano was a significant Uruguayan political leader.

He served as the 40th president of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015. Mujica was a complex figure with many roles. He was a farmer, a revolutionary, and a statesman. He belonged to the Broad Front, which is a coalition of left-wing parties. His life was defined by his fight for political change and his commitment to a simple lifestyle. He became known globally for his unique approach to power and wealth.

Mujica's early life was shaped by his family's history in Uruguay.

His father, Demetrio, was a farmer of Spanish Basque descent. His mother, Lucy, came from a family of Italian immigrants. These roots connected him to the agricultural traditions of the country. Mujica studied at the Alfredo Vásquez Acevedo Institute but did not finish his degree. In his youth, he was also an active competitive cyclist. These early years provided the foundation for his later work in agriculture and politics.

In the mid-1960s, Mujica joined the MLN-Tupamaros. This was a far-left armed political group inspired by the Cuban Revolution.

He participated in tactical operations, such as the 1969 takeover of the town of Pando. During this era, the Uruguayan government under Jorge Pacheco Areco suspended certain constitutional guarantees. Mujica faced significant conflict with the authorities. In 1970, he was shot six times while resisting arrest in Montevideo. He was eventually captured and spent 13 years in captivity during the military dictatorship. His imprisonment included very harsh conditions, such as living in a horse-watering trough for over two years. These experiences caused him serious mental and physical health challenges.

After democracy was restored in 1985, Mujica re-entered public life. He helped form the Movement of Popular Participation, or MPP. This group became a major part of the Broad Front coalition. Mujica was elected as a deputy in 1994 and a senator in 1999. In 2005, President Tabaré Vázquez appointed him Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries.

He used his professional background in farming to lead this ministry. His growing popularity within the Broad Front eventually led to his presidential candidacy.

In 2009, Mujica ran for president against the conservative candidate Luis Alberto Lacalle. He won the primary elections and then won the general election. In the runoff held on November 30, 2009, he received more than 52% of the vote. He took office on March 1, 2010. His administration focused on deepening the progressive policies of the previous government. He emphasized unity, stating that there should be no winners or losers in politics.

During his presidency, Mujica implemented several major social reforms. He oversaw the legalization of same-sex marriage and the decriminalization of abortion. One of his most controversial moves was the 2012 decision to legalize state-controlled marijuana sales. He argued that regulating the estimated US$40 million annual marijuana business would weaken drug cartels. By bringing the trade under state control, he aimed to fight drug-related crime and provide health treatment for abusers. His government also strengthened trade unions and increased minimum wages for workers.

Mujica gained international fame as "the world's poorest president." This title came from his extremely austere lifestyle. Although he earned a monthly salary of US$12,000, he donated approximately 90 percent of it to charity. He used these funds to support low-income individuals and small entrepreneurs. He was a vocal critic of capitalism and the focus on material possessions. In a 2013 speech to the United Nations, he urged the world to prioritize human relationships over economic markets. He believed that true happiness comes from solidarity, family, and friendship rather than the accumulation of goods.