Uruguay’s former guerilla-turned-president, Jose Mujica, introduced on Thursday that his esophageal most cancers has unfold to his liver and that he has determined to say no additional therapy.
In what Mujica stated could be his final interview, he informed Busqueda, a weekly news journal in Uruguay, that he was “doomed.”
“Honestly, I am dying,” stated 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 leave me alone. Don’t ask me for more interviews or anything else,” he stated. “My cycle is over.”
Known amongst each followers and detractors as “Pepe” Mujica, the folksy ex-president of Uruguay first burst into politics as a frontrunner of the Tupamaros, the 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.
As a leftist icon, he sparked international fascination by shunning the presidential palace to stay in a tiny farmhouse and donating most of his wage to charity.
‘Cannot deal with it’
The 89-year-old first revealed final April that docs had discovered a cancerous tumor in his esophagus. He underwent radiotherapy, and, final September, Mujica’s docs stated the esophageal most cancers appeared to have gone into remission.
Although the radiation left him weak and nearly unable to eat, Mujica reappeared on the political stage final fall, campaigning for his left-wing coalition, the Broad Front, in drama-free nationwide elections that affirmed Uruguay as one of many area’s strongest democracies.
Mujica’s most well-liked candidate and protege, Yamandu Orsi, gained the presidential vote final November and is about to take workplace on March 1.
In the interview with Busqueda, Mujica stated his autoimmune illness, extreme kidney illness and different underlying medical issues led to his resolution to not pursue therapy after medical assessments confirmed his most cancers had returned and metastasized.
“I’m an old man, and because I have two chronic illnesses my body cannot handle it,” he stated.
‘Say goodbye’
Mujica’s private physician, Raquel Pannone, held a news convention Thursday to elaborate on the ex-president’s medical situation. She stated therapy choices for the most cancers had been restricted from the beginning, given Mujica’s varied sicknesses.
“He should continue like this and be as calm as possible,” Pannone stated, declining to offer additional particulars about Mujica’s prognosis. She stated the leftist chief had not skilled adjustments to his each day life or ache ranges.
Although Mujica ostensibly retired from politics when he left the Senate in 2020, he remained a robust drive within the Broad Front. He is taken into account among the many hottest politicians within the nation.
Mujica informed Busqueda that he would dedicate his “final 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 want is to say goodbye to my fellow countrymen,” he stated within the interview.
His supporters, together with leftist readers from throughout Latin America, 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 a beautiful adventure and a miracle,” he stated. “We are too focused on wealth and not on happiness. We are focused only on doing things, and before you know it, life has passed you by.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com