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The former President of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, whose lifestyle clearly differs sharply
from that of most other world leaders. Mujica shunned the luxurious house that the
Uruguayan state provides for its leaders and opted to stay at his wife's farmhouse, off
a dirt road outside the capital, Montevideo. The water comes from a well in a yard,
overgrown with weeds. Only two police officers and Manuela, a three-legged dog
were used for protection

He and his wife work the land themselves, growing flowers. This austere lifestyle -
and the fact that Mujica donated about 90% of his monthly salary, equivalent to No messages
$12,000 to charity indicates a trait politicians lack - Honesty. Connect with others on
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In 2010, his annual personal wealth declaration - mandatory for officials in Uruguay
- was $1,800 , the value of his 1987 Volkswagen Beetle. In 2009, he added half of his
wife's assets - land, tractors and a house - reaching $215,000 .

Elected in 2009, Mujica spent the 1960s and 1970s as part of the Uruguayan guerrilla
Tupamaros, a leftist armed group inspired by the Cuban revolution.

He was shot six times and spent 14 years in jail. Most of his detention was spent in
harsh conditions and isolation, until he was freed in 1985 when Uruguay returned to
democracy.

Those years in jail, Mujica says, helped shape his outlook on life.

"I'm called 'the poorest president', but I don't feel poor. Poor people are those who
only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle, and always want more and more," he
says.

"This is a matter of freedom. If you don't have many possessions then you don't need
to work all your life like a slave to sustain them, and therefore you have more time
for yourself," he says.

"I may appear to be an eccentric old man... But this is a free choice."

The Uruguayan leader made a similar point when he addressed the Rio+20 summit :
"We've been talking all afternoon about sustainable development. To get the masses
out of poverty.

"But what are we thinking? Do we want the model of development and consumption
of the rich countries? I ask you now: what would happen to this planet if Indians
would have the same proportion of cars per household than Germans? How much
oxygen would we have left?

"Does this planet have enough resources so seven or eight billion can have the same
level of consumption and waste that today is seen in rich societies? It is this level of
hyper-consumption that is harming our planet."

Mujica accuses most world leaders of having a "blind obsession to achieve growth
with consumption, as if the contrary would mean the end of the world".

Imagine having honest politicians like him all over the world.

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Uruguay's economy, boosted by foreign investment, grew at an average of 5.8% Connect with others on
during his party's rise to power in 2005. Poverty levels dropped from around 40% Quora by beginning a new
before 2005 to less than 13% . Wealth was more evenly distributed in a nation of 3.4 conversation.
million , than at any point in the previous 30 years, according Mujica’s government
statistics .
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But he was not without critics, who point to his sometimes chaotic leadership, gauche
manner and occasionally contradictory statements. "He is idealised a lot abroad,"
sociologist Santiago Cardozo explains. "But his government, like him, was not very
organised."

Many Uruguayans admire him precisely because he is sincere and unrefined.

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President: An unauthorised investigation".

Mujica’s approval rate was nearly 60%, when he was banned from running a second
term..

Click for EXCLUSIVE: Uruguayan President Jose ‘Pepe’ Mujica

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Alyn Lin · Follow

Studies Informatics Engineering at Politeknik Negeri Malang (Expected 2024) · 1y

Related Where would you want to be in the world?

Everywhere is good when my cat along with me.

but if my answer is on a picture, maybe this will fit perfectly :

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that's all, have a nice day ! … (more)

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