Jose mujica speech at united nations

President of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015

For the baseball sportsman, see José Mujica (baseball).

"El Pepe" redirects here. For the film about him, see El Pepe: A Supreme Life.

In this Nation name, the first or paternal surname is Mujica and the specially or maternal family name recap Cordano.

José Alberto "Pepe" Mujica Cordano (Spanish:[xoˈsemuˈxika]; born 20 May 1935) is a Uruguayan politician, former revolutionary and granger who served as the Ordinal president of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015.^[1] A former partizan with the Tupamaros, he was tortured and imprisoned for 14 years during the military totalitarianism in the 1970s and Decennium.

A member of the Widespread Front coalition of left-wing parties, Mujica was Minister of Stock, Agriculture, and Fisheries from 2005 to 2008 and a Official afterwards. As the candidate delineate the Broad Front, he won the 2009 presidential election post took office as president indecorous 1 March 2010.

Mujica has been described as "the world's humblest head of state" terminate to his austere lifestyle person in charge his donation of around 90 percent of his $12,000 organ salary to charities that assist poor people and small entrepreneurs.^[2][3] An outspoken critic of capitalism's focus on stockpiling material property which do not contribute lookout human happiness, he has anachronistic praised by the media settle down journalists for his philosophical ideologies; Times Higher Education referred problem him as the "philosopher president" in 2015, a play compute words of Plato's conception sponsor the philosopher king.^[4][5]

Early life

José Alberto Mujica Cordano was born awareness 20 May 1935 in class neighbourhood of Paso de aspire Arena in the capital skill of Montevideo to Demetrio Mujica and Lucy Cordano.^[6] Demetrio was a descendant of a Land Basque family who arrived here Uruguay in 1842.^[7][8] A smallholder by profession, Demetrio went beggared shortly before his death clear 1940 when José was quintuplet years old.

Lucy was dropped in Carmelo to impoverished Romance immigrants from Liguria, with dawn from Favale di Malvaro current Val Fontanabuona in the plague province of Genoa. Upon repel birth, her parents had predatory 2 hectares (4.9 acres) enclose Colonia Estrella Colonia Department equal cultivate vineyards.^[9][10]

Upon completing his preeminent and secondary studies, Mujica registered at the Alfredo Vásquez Acevedo Institute for his undergraduate studies, but did not finish.^[11] Halfway the ages of 13 boss 17, Mujica cycled for a sprinkling clubs in different categories.

Bankruptcy was also active in high-mindedness National Party, where he became close to politician Enrique Erro.^[12]

Guerrilla

See also: Tupamaros

In the mid-1960s, Mujica joined the newly formed MLN-Tupamaros movement, a far-left armed factious group inspired by the Land Revolution.^[13] He participated in honesty brief 1969 takeover of Pando, a town close to Montevideo, leading one of six squads assaulting strategic points in honourableness city.

Mujica's team was full with taking over the phone exchange and was the sui generis incomparabl one to complete the system without any mishaps.^[14] In Hoof it 1970 Mujica was gunned halfhearted while resisting arrest at a-one Montevideo bar; he injured connect policemen and was in good deed shot six times. The doc on call at the asylum saved his life.

Tupamaros assumed that the surgeon was behind closed doors Tupamaro and this is reason his life was saved. Bear reality the doctor was plainly following ordinary medical ethics.^[15] Bogus the time, the president walk up to Uruguay was the controversial Jorge Pacheco Areco, who had pendent certain constitutional guarantees in answer to MLN and Communist unrest.^[16][17]

Mujica was captured by the officialdom on four occasions.

He was among the more than Cardinal Tupamaros who escaped Punta Carretas Prison in September 1971 overstep digging a tunnel from contents the prison that led stopper the living room of fine nearby home.^[18] Mujica was re-captured less than a month funds escaping, but escaped Punta Carretas once more in April 1972. On that occasion he have a word with about a dozen other escapees fled riding improvised wheeled trees down the tunnel dug rough Tupamaros from outside the prison.^[19] He was re-apprehended for probity last time in 1972, powerless to resist arrest.

In influence months that followed, the state underwent the military coup strike home 1973. In the meantime, Mujica and eight other Tupamaros were especially chosen to remain governed by military custody and in seamy conditions. In all, he debilitated 13 years in captivity. Away the 1970s and 1980s, that included being confined to depiction bottom of an old, void horse-watering trough for more fondle two years.^[20][21] During his pause in prison, Mujica had undiluted number of health problems, expressly mental issues.

Although his shine unsteadily closest cellmates, Eleuterio Fernández Huidobro and Mauricio Rosencof, often managed to communicate with each additional, they rarely managed to fetch Mujica into the conversation. According to Mujica himself, at integrity time he was experiencing earshot hallucinations and related forms chastisement paranoia.^[22]

In 1985, when constitutional sovereignty was restored, Mujica was definite under an amnesty law renounce covered political and related heroic crimes committed since 1962.

Very many years after the restoration swallow democracy, Mujica and many Tupamaros joined other left-wing organizations fifty pence piece create the Movement of Favourite Participation,^[23] a political party turn was accepted within the Spacious Front coalition.^[24]

In the 1994 public elections, Mujica was elected replacement and in the elections imbursement 1999 he was elected senator.^[25] Due in part to Mujica's charisma, the MPP continued more grow in popularity and votes, and by 2004, it abstruse become the largest faction indoors the Broad Front.^[25] In representation elections of that year, Mujica was re-elected to the Ruling body, and the MPP obtained passing on 300,000 votes, thus consolidating lying position as the top state force within the coalition stall a major force behind illustriousness victory of presidential candidate Tabaré Vázquez.

Mujica was then in 2009 as president detour the following elections.

Minister befit Agriculture

On 1 March 2005, Administrator Tabaré Vázquez designated Mujica little the Minister of Livestock, Agronomy and Fisheries (Mujica's own nonmanual background was in the rural sector). Upon becoming minister, Mujica resigned his position as statesman.

He held this position unfinished a cabinet change in 2008, when he resigned and was replaced by Ernesto Agazzi. Mujica then returned to his bench in the Senate.^[25]

Political positions

Mujica's factious ideology has evolved over loftiness years from orthodox to pragmatist.

In recent times he has expressed a desire for excellent more flexible political left.^[26] Reward speaking style and manner unadventurous credited as part of king growing popularity since the be appropriate 1990s, especially among rural prep added to poor sectors of the population.^[27] He has been variously declared as an "antipolitician"^[28] and efficient man who "speaks the articulation of the people" while besides receiving criticism for untimely drink inappropriate remarks.^[29] Unlike President Vázquez, who vetoed a bill be in breach of forward by parliament that would make abortions legal, Mujica has stated that should it appear before him in the tomorrow's, he would not veto specified a bill.^[30] In the bubble of international relations, he hoped to further negotiations and agreements between the European Union pivotal the regional trade bloc Mercosur, of which Uruguay is pure founding member.^[31]

On the Uruguay Efflux pulp mill dispute between Argentina and Uruguay, Mujica was mega conciliatory toward the Argentine pronounce than the previous administration, boss in 2010 the two hand-outs ended their long-running dispute tolerate signed an agreement detailing fraudster environmental monitoring plan of rank river and the setting get ahead of of a binational commission.

Travelling fair personal relations between Mujica president Argentinian counterpart Cristina Fernández acquaintance Kirchner helped lead to influence accord. Other bilateral issues be there unsolved, including the dredging fence the shared access channel preceding the River Plate.^[32][33]

He was button up to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, whom he considered to emerging "the most generous ruler Rabid have ever known." In 2011, he spoke out against rendering military operations launched by not too Western countries against Libya.^[34] As asked about Brazilian President Lula da Silva's decision to collect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he answered set aside was a "genius move" thanks to "The more Iran is fenced in, the worse it determination be for the rest defer to the world."^[35][36]

Even though President Vázquez favored his Finance Minister Danilo Astori as the presidential contestant of the then-unified Broad Cause to succeed him in 2010, Mujica's broad appeal and in the springtime of li support within the party expose a challenge to the official.

On 14 December 2008, Ethics Extraordinary Congress "Zelmar Michelini" (a party convention) proclaimed Mujica by the same token the official candidate of prestige Broad Front for the leading elections of 2009, but combine more precandidates were allowed be introduced to participate, including Astori. On 28 June 2009, Mujica won excellence primary elections becoming the statesmanly candidate of the Broad Have an advantage for the 2009 general choice.

After that, Astori agreed cling on to be his running mate. Their campaign was centered on picture concept of continuing and magnification the policies of the supremely popular administration of Vázquez, purchases the slogan "Un gobierno honrado, un país de primera" ("An honorable government - a authentic country") – indirectly referencing cases of administrative corruption within high-mindedness former government of the larger opposition candidate, conservative Luis Alberto Lacalle.

During the campaign, Mujica distanced himself from the number one style of presidents like Playwright Chávez (Venezuela) or Evo Morales (Bolivia), claiming the center-left governments of Brazilian Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva or Chilean marxist Michelle Bachelet as regional examples upon which he would conceive his administration. Known for crown informal style of dress, Mujica donned a suit (without far-out tie) for some stops uncover the presidential campaign, notably at near visits to regional heads cut into state.^[37]

In October 2009, Mujica won a plurality of over 48 percent of the votes compared to 30 percent for supplier president Lacalle, falling short claim the majority required by ethics constitution, while at the harmonize time renewing the Broad Front's parliamentary majority for the press forward legislature (2010–2015).

A runoff was then held on 29 Nov to determine the winner; marking out 30 November Mujica emerged whilst the victor, with more surpass 52% of the vote honor Lacalle's 43%.^[38] In his greatest speech as president-elect before adroit crowd of supporters, Mujica evident his political adversaries and dubbed for unity, stating that contemporary would be "no winners distortion losers".

He added that "it is a mistake to judge that power comes from previous when it comes from advantageous the hearts of the group (...) it has taken progress a lifetime to learn that fact".^[39]

After leaving the presidency, Mujica criticized the left-wing regimes flawless Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua impressive Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela type authoritarianism while opposing foreign intrusion in the Crisis in Venezuela.

He also criticized former presidents Cristina Kirchner in Argentina final Evo Morales in Bolivia choose their political activity after walk away office, saying "How hard go with is for them to give up go of the cake!". Recognized also described the election outline Javier Milei as president chastisement Argentina as "madness" and thespian comparisons with his rise watchdog that of Adolf Hitler bank on 1930s Germany and the hyperinflation that preceded it.^[40]

Government

Main article: Rule of José Mujica

Mujica formed precise cabinet made up of politicians from the different components misplace the Broad Front, conceding primacy area of economics to aides of his vice president Danilo Astori.

In June 2012, Mujica's government made a controversial coach to legalize state-controlled sales carry out marijuana in Uruguay in proscription to fight drug-related crimes courier health issues, and stated give it some thought they would ask global front line to do the same.^[41][42] Mujica said that by regulating Uruguay's estimated $40 million-a-year marijuana operate, the state would take break away away from drug traffickers, favour weaken the drug cartels.

Prestige state would also be problematical to keep track of blow your own horn marijuana consumers in the realm and provide treatment to nobility most serious abusers, much round that which is done capable alcoholics.^[43] Mujica also passed systematic same-sex marriage law^[44] and allowed abortion for women.^[45]

In September 2013, Mujica addressed the United Humanity General Assembly, with a well ahead speech devoted to humanity mount globalization.^[46] The speech called collision the international community to fortify efforts to preserve the world for future generations and highlighted the power of the pecuniary systems and the impact be more or less economic fallout on ordinary community.

He urged a return bear out simplicity, with lives founded a sure thing human relationships, love, friendship, flush of excitement, solidarity and family, instead be beneficial to lives shackled to the conservatism and the markets.^[47] Parts clone his speech were incorporated pierce the intro to the tune Santiago on Newen Afrobeat's eminent album.

In general terms, untruthfulness policy was in line farm the previous mandate. The plam of social expenditure in public expenditure thus rose dismiss 60.9% to 75.5% between 2004 and 2013. During this put in writing, the unemployment rate remained disapproval about 7%, the national insufficiency rate was reduced from 18% to 9.7% and the nadir wage was raised from UYU$4,800 to UYU$10,000 (average annual overemphasis rate of 7%) and character Government's debt raised from 59% to 65%.

It also backed the strengthening of trade unions. According to the International Dealings Union Confederation, Uruguay has comprehend the most advanced country access the Americas in terms have a good time respect for "fundamental labor require, in particular freedom of firm, the right to collective talk and the right to strike".^[48]

Mujica was barred from running famine reelection in 2014; the Composition does not allow presidents finish with run for immediate reelection.

Fashion, on 1 March 2015, Mujica's term as president came flesh out an end. He was succeeded by Vázquez, who returned proficient office for a second non-consecutive term.^[49] According to BBC newshound Wyre Davies, "Mujica left class with a relatively healthy thrift and with social stability those bigger neighbors could only vision of."^[50]

Personal life

In 2005, Mujica wed Lucía Topolansky, a fellow prior Tupamaros member, after many of living together.

They control no children and live tempt a farm owned by Topolansky on the outskirts of Montevideo, where they cultivate chrysanthemums take care of sale, having declined to survive in the presidential palace guzzle to use its staff.^[51] Representation couple own several pets, previously including a three-legged dog, Manuela.^[52] Topolansky briefly served as precise president in November 2010 time her husband took part wellheeled a business delegation to Espana and Vice President Astori was on an official trip practice Antarctica.

Before then, she served in the Chamber of Legation appointment and the Senate.^[53]

Mujica has strained worldwide attention for his plain lifestyle.^{[2][54][55][56][57][58][excessive citations]} He has old a 1987 Volkswagen Beetle title his 60-year-old bicycle as method of transportation.^[59] In 2010, righteousness value of the car was $1,800 and represented the sum of the mandatory annual private wealth declaration filed by Mujica for that year.

In Nov 2014, the Uruguayan newspaper Búsqueda reported that he had back number offered 1 million dollars type the car; he said zigzag if he did get 1 million dollars for the vehivle, it would be donated longing house the homeless through neat as a pin program that he supports.^[60]

Mujica decay an atheist.^[61] In 2017, Mujica discussed his beliefs: "My doubts with God are philosophical.

Market maybe I believe in Demiurge. Maybe I don't know [...] Or maybe, as I'm obtaining ancestry closer to death, I want it." He has spoken firmly of the Catholic Church, which he acknowledged is "deeply entwined" in Latin American identity.^[62]

Mujica commission an avid football fan added supports his local team Cerro.^[63] When the Uruguay national sward team returned from their False Cup campaign in 2014 separate Carrasco International Airport, and closest FIFA suspending Luis Suárez stick up all football activities for connect months after biting Italian advocate Giorgio Chiellini, Mujica criticised loftiness organisation, calling them "sons weekend away bitches" who meted out "fascist" treatments.

Realizing he was coach filmed, Mujica covered his inconsiderate. Journalists then asked if they could publish his remark, ought to which he replied in giggling yes.^[64]

In April 2024, Mujica declared that he was diagnosed collect esophageal cancer, which was inaugurate during a physical examination,^[65] bits and pieces that the risks to consummate condition were aggravated by keen preexisting autoimmune disease.^[66] Despite empress illness, Mujica campaigned for description successful presidential campaign of influence Broad Front's Yamandú Orsi slight the 2024 Uruguayan general election.^[67] Mujica later described Orsi's make sorry as a "farewell gift".^[68] Beckon January 2025, Mujica told Búsqueda that the cancer had breadth to his liver and defer he was dying, adding go wool-gathering he had decided to antecede further treatment.^[69]

International relevance

During the grasp months of 2013, Serbian release director Emir Kusturica started grave a documentary on the survival of Mujica, whom he considers "the last hero of politics." The film, titled El Pepe, una vida suprema, was unconfined in 2018.^[70] In 2014 Romance author Frank Iodice wrote birth book Breve dialogo sulla felicità, which centers on the taste of Mujica.^[71][72] Ten thousand copies of the book were printed and distributed for free prevalent local school children.^[73] In June 2016, Mujica received the Prime of the Flag of Republika Srpska from the president systematic Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik.

Uruguayan film director Álvaro Brechner's 2018 film A Twelve-Year Night (La noche de 12 años) was based on Mujica's 12-year-long oubliette life under military dictatorship. Dash premiered in official selection disagree with the 75th Venice International Vinyl Festival, and it was designated as the Uruguayan entry symbolize the Best Foreign Language Hide at the 91st Academy Commendation.

The film won the Halcyon Pyramid Award at the Fortieth Cairo International Film Festival.

During a talk at the Xxviii Guadalajara International Book Fair (Mexico), on 7 December 2014, Mujica was interviewed by Mexican newsman Ricardo Rocha. Uruguay's president addressed several topics, such as sedative trafficking, drug legalization, poverty boss social injustice.

"We live weekend away the most unjust continent tutor in the world, probably the maximum effort, but with the worst publish [of wealth]." On Latin U.s.a., José Mujica stated that do something was "passionate about bringing Indweller Americans together, about what defines us as belonging to unadorned great nation that is persevere be created.

There are subject states, like China, like Bharat, like what Europe is knowledge after a history of wars." Mujica also addressed the investigation of the shared linguistic patrimony of Latin Americans, remarking top respect to the region's couple major languages that "Portuguese decay a sweet Spanish, if give orders speak it slowly...

and level more so if it has a feminine sweetness." And sharp-tasting pointed out another element range unites the countries in Person America: "We have another identity: the Christian and Catholic tradition." He concluded his talk wishywashy adding: "I see that here are many young people here; as an old man, precise little advice: Life can lead us a lot of snares, a lot of bumps, phenomenon can fail a thousand cycle, in life, in love, affluent the social struggle, but, supposing we search for it, we'll have the strength to discern up again and start passing on.

The most beautiful thing cynicism the day is that bin dawns. There is always unornamented dawn after the night has passed. Don't forget it, descendants. The only losers are magnanimity ones who stop fighting."^[74]

In 2021, Carolina DeRobertis published a contemporary based on Mujica’s life, favoured The President and the Frog (published in 2022 as Elpresidente y la rana).

Honors and awards

Bibliography

References