Montevideo, April 29 (RHC)-- Former Uruguayan President José Mujica announced that he has a tumor in the esophagus.  Mujica, who is 88 years-ld, said in a press conference that the disease was detected during a medical checkup last Friday.

“It was discovered that I have a tumor in the esophagus, which is obviously very serious and is doubly complex in my case, because I have been suffering from an immunological disease for more than 20 years,” he reported.

He added that this affected -- among other things -- his kidneys, which creates “obvious difficulties” for chemotherapy or surgical techniques.  ”The doctors are evaluating all of this, doing cellular analysis, how this story continues,” he said.

“In my life, more than once the grim reaper was hanging around my bed, but she continued to shepherd me.  This time it seems to me that he comes with the scythe at the ready,” he added with one of his usual metaphors.  "We'll see what happens."

Jose "Pepe" Mujica, president of Uruguay between 2010 and 2015, however, assured that as long as he can he will continue to be active in the ranks of the leftist Popular Participation Movement (MPP) and Frente Amplio, faithful to his way of thinking, and entertained with his vegetables and his chickens. .

“As long as I can, I will continue to be active and be entertained with vegetables.  As long as the roll holds, I will continue,” he said.

During his announcement, Mujica also wanted to send a message to young people.

“I want to convey to the girls and boys that life is beautiful, and it is spent and it goes away,” he said.  “The crux of the matter is to start over every time one falls, and if there is anger, transform it into hope and fight for love, not let yourself be fooled by hate.  No one is saved alone.”  Finally, he added that the only freedom that exists is in the head and is called “will.”

”If we do not use it we are not free.  And this must be understood.  This challenge is faced by the new generations.  And life is so beautiful that it makes no sense to sacrifice it for stupidity.”

“As for the rest, I am grateful and that they take away what I danced,” he concluded.

Famous for his austerity, simplicity and direct style, José “Pepe” Mujica was one of the most prominent leaders of the progressive wave in Latin America at the beginning of the century, becoming an influential reference for the left worldwide.

In the 1960's, Jose Mujica joined the National Liberation Movement-Tupamaros, for which he was a prisoner between 1972 and 1984 during the last military dictatorship in Uruguay.

In 1989, he was elected deputy and later senator for the Frente Amplio.  Between 2005 and 2008 he held the position of Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries in the government of Tabaré Vázquez.

In the 2009 presidential elections, he was elected the 40th president of Uruguay after defeating Luis Alberto Lacalle, father of the current president Luis Lacalle Pou, with 52% of the votes.

After occupying the Presidency, he was elected senator twice more, in the 2014 elections and in the 2019 elections. He resigned from the latter position on October 20, 2020, retiring from political activity to dedicate himself to popular militancy.

Since 1972, he has been companero to Lucía Topolansky, historical leader of the Popular Participation Movement and vice president of Uruguay between 2017 and 2020.  The couple married in 2005.