UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his condolences to the recently deceased former Uruguayan President José Mujica (1935-2025) and recalled his revolutionary legacy while praising his qualities as a Latin American leader.
José “Pepe” Mujica will be remembered for his administration characterized by humility, “choosing simplicity over privilege,” said Guterres, who emphasized that Mujica was a role model for future generations.
The promotion of dialogue and multilateralism, based on the principles of the United Nations Charter, were some of the actions that earned him the respect of citizens, including Guterres, who dedicated several reflections to him.
“He will be remembered not only for his firm commitment to social justice, equality, and solidarity, but also for the deeply human way in which he embodied those values,” Guterres said in a statement.
Another country that joined in sending condolences to Mujica’s family and friends was China. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian described him as “an old and good friend.”
During his term (2010-2015), Pepe Mujica visited Beijing in 2013, where he met with President Xi Jinping and established cooperative ties in areas such as education, telecommunications, and other scientific and technical disciplines.
José “Pepe” Mujica died this Tuesday, May 13th, in Montevideo, Uruguay, at the age of 89, due to a malignant tumor in the esophagus, diagnosed last year.
