José Mujica, the previous guerrilla who turned Uruguay’s president and a world progressive icon, has introduced that the most cancers in his oesophagus has unfold to his liver, and that he has chosen to forgo additional therapy.
In what Mujica mentioned could be his final interview, he advised Búsqueda, a weekly information journal in Uruguay, that he was “doomed”.
“Actually, I’m dying,” mentioned the previous chief, who ruled the small South American nation of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015. The article famous that he had tears in his eyes.
“What I ask is that they depart me alone. Don’t ask me for extra interviews or the rest,” he mentioned. “My cycle is over.”
Mujica first entered politics as a pacesetter of the Tupamaros, a Marxist militant group that drew inspiration from the Cuban revolution.
Later, as Uruguay’s fortieth president, he reworked his nation into one of many healthiest and most socially liberal democracies in Latin America, legalizing abortion, same-sex marriage and leisure marijuana. He sparked international fascination by shunning the presidential palace to reside in a tiny farmhouse and donating most of his wage to charity.
The 89-year-old first revealed final April that docs had discovered a cancerous tumour in his oesophagus. He underwent radiotherapy, and, final September, Mujica’s docs mentioned the oesophageal most cancers appeared to have gone into remission.
Though the radiation left him weak and nearly unable to eat, Mujica reappeared on the political stage final fall, campaigning for his leftwing coalition, the Broad Entrance, in drama-free nationwide elections that affirmed Uruguay as one of many area’s strongest democracies.
Mujica’s most well-liked candidate and protege, Yamandú Orsi, gained the presidential vote final November and is ready to take workplace on 1 March.
Within the interview with Búsqueda, Mujica mentioned his autoimmune illness, extreme kidney illness and different underlying medical issues led to his choice to not pursue therapy after medical checks confirmed his most cancers had returned and metastasized.
“I’m an previous man, and since I’ve two persistent sicknesses my physique can not deal with it,” he mentioned.
Mujica’s private physician, Raquel Pannone, held a information convention on Thursday to elaborate on the ex-president’s medical situation. She mentioned therapy choices for the most cancers have been restricted from the beginning, given Mujica’s numerous sicknesses.
“He ought to proceed like this and be as calm as doable,” Pannone mentioned, declining to offer additional particulars about Mujica’s prognosis. She mentioned the leftist chief had not skilled adjustments to his day by day life or ache ranges.
Though Mujica ostensibly retired from politics when he left the senate in 2020, he remained a robust power within the Broad Entrance. He’s thought of among the many hottest politicians within the nation.
Mujica advised Búsqueda that he would dedicate his “closing stage” of life to his farm on the outskirts of Montevideo, the capital, the place he has grown chrysanthemums along with his spouse for many years.
“What I need is to say goodbye to my fellow countrymen,” he mentioned within the interview.
His supporters shared messages of encouragement on social media.
Seemingly unable to assist himself from shelling out the plain-spoken knowledge for which he’s admired, Mujica repeatedly answered interview questions with philosophical aphorisms.
“Life is an attractive journey and a miracle,” he mentioned. “We’re too centered on wealth and never on happiness. We’re centered solely on doing issues and, earlier than you realize it, life has handed you by.”
Supply hyperlink
