Uruguayan President José Mujica is the poorest president in the world, according to the news website Infobae.com: he earns US$12,500 per month and donates 90% of it to charities.
“His only property is his old Volkswaken, and he lives in an humble ranch in the outskirts of the capital,” the website writes. “But there are others who live with less,” Mujica said.
The donated 90% of the presidential salary goes to NGOs involved in social housing and to the Fondo Raúl Sendic, a fund that administrates Mujica’s political movement, the MMP (Movivimento de Participación Popular) and collaborates with many local charities.
A former left-wing guerrillero, Mujica announced last week that he would have included his presidential manor, the Suarez and Reyes House in the Prado neighbourhood of Montevideo, in the list of state shelters for homeless people compiled by the Ministry of Welfare.
If all other help centres fill up over the winter months, homeless people could find themselves under the luxurious roof of the three-floor presidential palace, a building in which Mujica decided not to move into.
“It’s neither a burden or a pose, it is a philosophy that I carried on from in years of privacy,” says the Uruguayan president, who was elected within the leftist Broad Front coalition and claims to be happy with what he has.
He still lives with his wife, Sen. Lucia Topolansky, in his farm on the outskirts of Montevideo, in Rincón del Cerro, as he promised when he was due to be elected president.
For many years he used a simple Vespa scooter to come to Parliament. According to the latest affidavit submitted to the Board of Transparency and Public Ethics, Mujica only owns a 1987 Volkswagen, while the first lady, who also donates part of her salary to charities, owns the farm.
I truly admire President Mujica for keeping a low profile in order to help his countrymen. He is indeed a great man and a hero to his country. He was born to parents of modest means. He and his wife care about the people more than anything else. I can’t imagine myself giving almost all of my hard earned money away, but he was able to do it, and I salute him for that!
he is the complete opposite of the Italian politicians who are total parassites only capable of profitting from the misery of the people
The president of Uruguay just became the person I would mostl want to meet upon reading this article.
It encourages and inspires me to be a better person reading about Mujica. What a selfless and amazing leader. I salute you Mujica.
Walk the walk. Love it.
What a man,would like to meet such a kind man
has Jose Mujica. I SALUTE YOU!
Why cant all Presidents do the same?
This is what we all should do each year!
He is a very super man!!
This is kind of president that nigerian need .God bless mujica.Kudus to uruguay pres.
Damn,this guy made my day
We definitely need him for south africa
On behalf of Nigerians i requested him 2 become our president.