World’s ‘poorest president’ rejects retirement pension
Former Uruguayan president José Mujica, who was dubbed “the world’s poorest president” has rejected the pension from his time as a senator.
The 83 years old resigned early this week from his post of a senator. He had held the position since 2015 when his five-year term as a president ended.
The former president has termed his decision to retire as personal.
“I’d say it’s exhaustion after the long journey. Nevertheless, while my mind works, I can’t resign from solidarity and the battle of ideas,” Mujica said in his his resignation official in a letter to the head of the Senate.
Mujica resigned from his position despite having the right to stay on as Senator until 2020.
PRESIDENTIAL TENURE
Mujica’s down to earth lifestyle is what made him famous. Mujica made $1200 (Sh1.2 million) a month during his five year term as president.
This is slightly lower than President Uhuru Kenyatta’s monthly salary of Sh1.4 million salary a month.
Furthermore, Mujica went on to donate 90% of his fortune to charity.
Mujica also refused to live in the presidential palace during his tenure as president opting to live on his farm with his wife where they grow flowers.
He also turned down an offer of $1 million in 2014 for his light blue 1987 Volkswagen Beetle saying that he needed it to drive his three legged dog.
“I’m called the poorest president, but I don’t feel poor. Poor people are those who only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle and always want more and more. This is a matter of freedom. If you don’t have many possessions then you don’t need to work all your life like a slave to sustain them and therefore you has more time for yourself,” he said in an interview in 2012.