Thousands of Uruguayans filled the streets of downtown Montevideo on Tuesday to bid farewell to former President José “Pepe” Mujica, a key figure of Latin American leftism and a symbol of national politics. The funeral procession moved through the capital accompanied by applause, political chants, and heartfelt expressions of affection, heading toward the Legislative Palace, where his remains will lie in state.
The cortege departed from Plaza Independencia —located in front of the Executive Branch headquarters— and proceeded along 18 de Julio Avenue and General Juan Antonio Lavalleja Avenue, flanked by crowds lining both sides of these major thoroughfares. The horse-drawn caisson carrying the casket advanced slowly, followed by a sea of citizens waving flags of the Movimiento de Participación Popular (MPP), holding farewell signs —many reading “Farewell, old man”— and chanting slogans.
The casket, draped in the Uruguayan flag, a red sash, and a simple bouquet of two purple flowers, was escorted by mounted members of the army and leaders of the MPP —the political group within the Broad Front coalition founded by Mujica himself. A lifelong leftist activist, Mujica remained engaged in public life until his death at age 89, following a long battle with cancer.
Along the route, the procession paused several times to allow people to approach, pay their respects, and listen to speeches from MPP leaders, who urged the continuation of Mujica’s legacy of struggle. Among the most repeated chants was a phrase Mujica famously said upon leaving the presidency in 2015: “I’m not leaving, I’m arriving.”
At 3:00 p.m. local time (6:00 p.m. GMT), the public wake will begin in the Hall of the Lost Steps at the Legislative Palace. It has not yet been confirmed whether the public will have access for 24 or 36 hours. Mujica’s body was accompanied throughout the procession by his widow, former Vice President Lucía Topolansky, and Uruguay’s current president, Yamandú Orsi.
