Montevideo is alive right now with horns honking and people who support the Frente Amplio yelling “Viva Pepe” in the streets. Fireworks are popping off in the distance and very dark storm clouds are rolling in soon to drench this great city.
“Pepe” is President Jose Mujica’s nickname. As the new President for Uruguay, Jose Mujica will bring a colorful rule to this great nation.
Jose Mujica spent 14 years in prison during Uruguay’s military regime; because he was the founder of the Marxist Tupamaros guerillas. He’s friends with Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez and Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He’s vowed to bring change to Uruguay.
In July Pepe made a speech and vowed to repent “the stupid
ideologies that come from the 1970s – I refer to things like
unconditional love of everything that is state-run, scorn for
businessmen and intrinsic hate of the United States. I’ll shout
it if they want: Down with isms! Up with a left that is capable of
thinking outside the box! In other words, I am more than completely
cured of simplifications, of dividing the world into good and evil, of
thinking in black and white. I have repented!”
Often outspoken and causing controversy with his speeches calling Argentina “a nation of morons”… It’s definitely going to be an interesting ride with Mujica as President of Uruguay.
No matter what happens, I’m sure it will be colorful.