Presidency is commonly related to lavish properties, in-house employees, and costly convoy autos, but it surely’s not at all times the case.
The “poorest ever president” opted for a 1987 automotive throughout his time in workplace, gave most of his cash to charity, and earned round £500 a month.
Dwelling off a dust highway exterior the capital guarded by his three-legged canine and two law enforcement officials, Jose Mujicawas president of Uruguay from 2010-2015.
He turned down the lavish presidential palace to remain in his spouse’s humble farmhouse.
Mujica’s option to work the land whereas operating the nation units a novel tone amongst presidents, reflecting his beliefs about consumerism and the that means of actual wealth.
He gave roughly 90% of his wage, equal to $12,000 (£7,500), to much less prosperous communities and entrepreneurs, that means he earned across the common Uruguayan revenue of $775 (£485) a month whereas he was in workplace.
“I’ve lived like this most of my life, I can stay effectively with what I’ve,” he informed the BBC.
In 2010, his annual necessary private wealth declaration amounted to the worth of his 1987 Volkswagen Beetle, $1,800 (£1,100).
It reached $215,000 (£135,000) this yr, after including half of his spouse’s belongings, together with land, tractors and a home, which is a couple of third of the declared determine by his predecessor, Tabare Vasquez.
He was shot six occasions and spent 14 years in jail after being a part of the Uruguayan guerrilla Tupamaros, a leftist armed group, within the Sixties and Nineteen Seventies.
He was freed in 1985 after time in jail typically spent in isolation as Uruguay returned to democracy, after which elected in 2009.
Now, his outlook on life formed by his experiences raises many questions on modern-day consumerism.
He shared his ideas on the Rio+20 summit in June this yr: “We have been speaking all afternoon about sustainable growth. To get the plenty out of poverty.
“However what are we pondering? Do we would like the mannequin of growth and consumption of the wealthy international locations? I ask you now: what would occur to this planet if Indians would have the identical proportion of vehicles per family than Germans? How a lot oxygen would we’ve got left?
“Does this planet have sufficient assets so seven or eight billion can have the identical stage of consumption and waste that right this moment is seen in wealthy societies? It’s this stage of hyper-consumption that’s harming our planet.”
He informed the BBC: “I am known as ‘the poorest president’, however I do not really feel poor. Poor persons are those that solely work to attempt to maintain an costly life-style, and at all times need an increasing number of.”
