Jose Mujica Uruguayan politician Date of Birth: 20.05.1935 Country: Uruguay

Biography of Jose Mujica

Jose Mujica, a Uruguayan politician, was born into a modest family on May 20, 1935. His parents, Lucy Cordano and Demetrio Mujica, came from humble backgrounds. His mother was descended from poor Italian immigrants, while his father, who was of Basque descent, worked as a farmer. However, his father's farming business failed, and he passed away when Jose was only five years old.

In his youth, Jose was affiliated with the National Party and developed a close friendship with Enrique Erro. He also had typical teenage interests, such as competitive cycling. In the early 1960s, Mujica joined the Tupamaros movement, an armed group of rebels inspired by the Cuban revolution. In 1969, he participated in the takeover of the city of Pando, but unfortunately, the rebels did not hold control for long. Mujica was arrested and faced a military court. Throughout his time with the Tupamaros, Mujica was arrested multiple times, and during one arrest in 1972, he sustained six gunshot wounds. However, these experiences did not deter him from pursuing a peaceful profession.

After the military coup in 1973, Mujica was transferred to a military prison where he spent 14 years, including more than two years in solitary confinement at the bottom of a specially dug well. Despite his circumstances, Mujica continued to maintain contact with other Tupamaros leaders. In 1985, with the advent of constitutional democracy, Mujica was released under amnesty. Several years later, he, along with other members of the Tupamaros, joined various left-wing organizations and created the Movement of Popular Participation political party.

In 1994, Mujica was elected as a deputy and later as a senator in 1999. The popularity of his movement grew, largely due to his unique charisma. By 2004, the Movement of Popular Participation became the second-largest party within the Uruguayan Broad Front coalition. In the same year, Mujica was reelected as a senator.

On March 1, 2005, President Tabaré Vázquez appointed Jose Mujica as the Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries, a position he held until 2008. After stepping down from the ministerial post, Mujica returned to the Senate.

Mujica's presidential ambitions became evident in July 2009 when he won the party elections and became the candidate for the Broad Front in the presidential race. In the presidential elections, Mujica received over 48% of the votes, while his main opponent, former president Alberto Lacalle, received only 30%. As Mujica did not secure an absolute majority, a second round was organized, where he won with 52% against Lacalle's 43%. Mujica formed a diverse government comprised of members from various factions of the Broad Front, with Danilo Astori serving as vice president.

Mujica's presidency was met with high expectations, as he was the first former guerrilla to assume the presidency of Uruguay. In June 2012, Mujica and his government proposed legalizing the trade of marijuana as a strategy to reduce drug-related crimes and generate additional revenue for the country's treasury. He urged leaders of other nations to follow his example.

Jose Mujica's presidency marked a unique chapter in Uruguayan politics, characterized by his humble background, revolutionary past, and commitment to social justice.