Spanish
Uruguay's former president, José “Pepe” Mujica, 89, passed away this Tuesday. It had been reported that he was going through a terminal phase of esophageal cancer and was staying at his farm in Rincón del Cerro, where he was receiving palliative care to cope with the pain.
"With deep sorrow we announce the passing of our colleague Pepe Mujica," wrote Orsi on his X profile.
You may be interested in: http://Pepe Mujica: Biografía de un presidente simple con huellas extraordinarias
"President, activist, leader and conductor, we are going to miss you very much, dear old man. Thank you for everything you gave us and for your deep love for your people," he completed.
La enfermedad
The former president suffered from esophageal cancer. In mid-May, his wife and former Vice President of Uruguay, Lucía Topolansky, as well as the current president of that country, Yamandú Orsi, confirmed his serious health condition. "He is on the plateau, he is at the end (...) this has an announced end," stated the also former senator, who also indicated that her doctor diagnosed that he would be in a "terminal situation".
"I visited him and he's very bad (...) it's complicated over there, but he's taking care of himself," said Orsi, who had visited him recently.
Already in early January 2025, former president communicated that the disease had spread through his body and there was no way to stop it. "The cancer in the esophagus is colonizing my liver. I can't stop it with anything. Why? Because I am an old man and because I have two chronic diseases. I can't have a biochemical treatment or surgery because my body can't handle it," he commented. And he added: "I am condemned, brother. I've come this far."
Mujica revealed that a malignant tumor was detected in his esophagus at the end of April 2024, which led him to receive treatment with radiotherapy. A few months later, in August, he assured that this apparently worked, but it left him "destroyed".
