Uruguay's former president Jose "Pepe" Mujica, who has died aged 89, won over legions of fans by adopting a humble lifestyle, giving away most of his salary to charity and driving around in a sky blue Volkswagen Beetle.

Dubbed the world's "poorest president" while in office from 2010 to 2015, Mujica eschewed the trappings of success, continuing to live on his small farm, with his wife and three-legged dog Manuela at his side.

He transformed Uruguay, best known for football and cattle ranching, into an outpost of progressive politics on a continent plagued by corruption and strongman governments.

A former guerrilla with a life story that read like a thriller, he was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus in May 2024 and underwent aggressive radiation therapy.

In January, he announced he was dying after the cancer spread to his liver, and his wife Lucia Topolansky said this week he was receiving palliative care.

A few months ago, Mujica had summoned his last reserves to campaign for his political heir Yamandu Orsi, who was elected president in November.

Orsi's win, Mujica told AFP in an interview after the vote, was "something of a reward for me at the end of my career."

As........

© International Business Times