State of Uruguay: President without Palace

Probably, there is no more boring country in the world than Uruguay. Even its center, the city of Montevideo is similar to the "sleeping kingdom". The dullness of the state can be compared with a fan: like solid, smart, kind, but for some reason does not wind. On the map, Uruguay is represented by a modest triangle, located between emotional Brazil and passionate Argentina. It seems that he appeared due to the fact that the neighbors could not share these lands among themselves. The cities of Uruguay are not as subtle as Argentina, and the beauty of the landscapes does not match the Brazilian one.

But despite the boring state, neighbors often cross the border to relax on the luxurious beaches without fear of crowded and stealing things. But the article is not about the country, but about why the former president of Uruguay, Jose Alberto Mujica Cordano is considered one of the poorest on the planet heads of state and what changes occurred in the country during his reign.

Hero of our time

Heidi Spekon, a Swiss by birth, but working in the German film industry, began producing the second part of the tape about the life and political activities of Jose Alberto. The work on the first part was completed in 1997, there it was told about childhood, years spent in places of deprivation of liberty and return to life without adventures.

The new film tells about the current life of Jose Alberto.

Heads of state, who held the presidency before Cordoba

Julio Maria Sanguinetti Coirolo (January 6, 1936, Montevideo, Uruguay) - President from 1985 to 1990 and from 1995 to 2000. He was born in an average family, of Italian descent. The main profession is a lawyer, later he united the legal sphere with the career of a journalist.

Battlé Ibáñez, Jorge (October 25, 1927, Montevideo, Uruguay) - President from 2000 to 2005. Founder of the Colorado faction. In domestic politics he adhered to the idea of problems with the settlement of the victims of the military dictatorship. In foreign policy I tried to find ways of rapprochement with the United States.

Tabare Ramon Vazquez Rosas (January 17, 1940, Montevideo, Uruguay) is president from 2005 to 2010. He is Galician by birth, and an oncologist by profession. Father of four children, one of whom is adopted. The second time he became president in March last year.

Legalization of "grass"

Did you know that it was this country that first legalized the use of drugs? If you think that they were ahead of Holland, then you are deeply mistaken. In the Netherlands, drugs are prohibited. The government of the country allows the use of marijuana only and strictly in certain places, people over 18 years and not more than 5 grams per day.

The idea of legalizing drugs was proposed by the 40th official president of Uruguay, Jose Alberto Mujica. In his opinion, they do not need to be fought with, but they need to be allowed to sell. There is nothing good in legalization, but the worst thing is to turn your people over to drug trafficking. Now the institute of control and regulation of cannabis is engaged in this. Marijuana smokers receive special cards that help fix a violation of the monthly dose (40 g). Also registered in the register of smokers, people are allowed to grow no more than 6 marijuana plants, and private companies will engage in industrial scale production. An important point: the sale of drugs to foreigners was banned by the President of Uruguay himself.

The poorest in the world

Jose Alberto Mujica (born May 20, 1935, Montevideo, Uruguay) - President from March 2010 to 2015. Initially, he was against the establishment of a military dictatorship in the country. Even the spent years in places of imprisonment did not prevent him from assuming the post of head of Uruguay for 5 years.

One of the poor heads of state he is called because he gave 90% of the salary to the aid funds and other non-governmental organizations.

Expecting socialism

Having organized with his friends in 1965 a movement against the dictatorship of Tupamaros, they fought like Robin Hoods - they robbed trucks carrying food, and then gave them to the needy. Over time, their organization during the attacks begins to use weapons. Later, when he became president, in one interview he would say: "We thought it would be easy to build a new society, and we are on the threshold of socialism, but it turned out that we were deeply mistaken." Soon the gang Robin Gudov was caught. Many times Jose Alberto arranged a prison escape, and his bride helped him, but every attempt was unsuccessful. In total, he spent 14 years behind bars, 2 of them in solitary confinement.

An idealist who was not influenced by power and a beautiful life

In 1985, after his release from prison, together with his wife, José Alberto moved to a farm where he found an occupation to his liking - flower breeding. He forgot about his past, but he did not refuse from politics. In 1990, he and his wife were elected to the parliament of Uruguay. In 2005, José Alberto became Minister of Agriculture, and five years later became head of the country.

Much has been written about the fact that the President of Uruguay, José Mujica "without a palace," and this has an explanation. Even after receiving such a high and responsible position, he refused to live in a luxury villa, preferring his little house to her. His monthly salary was $ 12,500. 1250 he left to himself, the rest donated, but traveled in an ordinary car, which in the people was called "beetle".

Despite his modesty, he had to put on expensive gala costumes for meetings with foreign colleagues. He did not like this, but there is nothing to be done about it, as they say, the position obliges.

The main result of his presidency was the improvement of the quality of life of the people. Poverty declined from 34% to 11%, and unemployment to 6%.