Montevideo, February 28 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Uruguayan President Jose “Pepe” Mujica will step down on Sunday after carrying out many important social-economic reforms during his term in office as the country’s head-of-state. Mujica is leaving office with a 65 percent approval rating, making him one of the world’s most popular presidents.

Mujica is known for maintaining an austere life style and for passing many socially progressive laws including same sex marriage, the legalization of marijuana and the right to an abortion.

In the humanitarian front, the Mujica administration started receiving Syrian refugees from that country’s civil war. It was the first Latin American country to do so, receiving 42 Syrians and also assuming all the relocation costs of about $2.9 million, as well as guaranteeing jobs for adults and schooling for children arriving in the country.

Despite his ongoing popularity, the 79-year-old Mujica is constitutionally prohibited from running for a second term as president, according to the Uruguayan law.

President-elect Tabaré Vazquez was elected president for the second time last November receiving 53.6 percent of votes and is the first person in Uruguay to win two presidential terms.