Montevideo, August 4 (RHC)-- Uruguay's former President Jose Mujica has announced he will retire from the Senate on August 14, but has no plans to abandon political life – and may yet run for the presidency again in 2019.

Speaking to local media, 83-year-old said he was stepping down due to international travel plans.

"I feel I will not have the energy to attend parliament," he said, describing commitments as of August 21 to travel to Argentina, Spain, Italy and France "I cannot elude."

Mujica ruled Uruguay from 2010 to 2015 and gained worldwide acclamation as 'the world's humblest head of state' for donating 90 percent of his 12,000-dollar monthly salary to charity.

In his statements, far from announcing a departure from public file the Frente Amplio senator insisted he will remain in the battle of ideas because there are always pending issues.

"The capacity to think and dream far exceeds the capacity to fulfill the goals we set ourselves" the leader of the Popular Participation Movement said, according to Prensa Latina.

Mujica – who ruled Uruguay from 2010 to 2015 and who gained worldwide acclamation as 'the world's humblest head of state' for donating 90 percent of his 12,000-dollar monthly salary to charity

Asked about the presidential election campaign of 2019, Mujica said that he will participate if he is alive and that he would help the sector he belongs and the Frente Amplio, but he insisted that he would run as an independent candidate.