Thank You to Stephen Cook and Geoffrey West
Uruguayan President Jose Mujica getting out of his ‘presidential’ vehicle
Commentary By Stephen: This story gives a whole new meaning to the song “Do You Know The Way to ‘San José’?”… for it seems the people of Uruguay certainly do.
Apparently, their President, José Mujica, is following in the footsteps of JFK and J Edgar Hoover – and not pocketing his entire salary for self.
What a shame all the world’s leaders and, importantly, the CEOs, Chairpersons, Directors and senior executives of all the leading multinationals (who earn well beyond what any world leader ever could earn in a lifetime in politics) aren’t as unity conscious – yet. But they will be soon.
Meanwhile, I am happy to worship this “San José” – but then he wouldn’t want that either. Thanks to Geoffrey West.
Uruguayan President José Mujica Drives a Volkswagen Beetle and Donates 90% of his Salary to Charity
Posted on Thursday, September 27th, 2012 at 9:26 AM
By Adeola Adeyemo, Bella Naija – September 27, 2012
While the Nigerian leaders are being berated for refusing to declare their assets publicly and demanding astronomical pay rise to add to the already exorbitant allowances they receive, the President of Uruguay, José Mujica is getting world wide recognition and respect for donating 90 percent of his earnings to charitable causes.
He has earned what most people would call an enviable reputation as the “poorest,” or the “most generous,” president in the world. His nickname, “el presidente mas pobre” translates to “poorest president”.
The President said in a recent interview that the only big item he owns is his Volkswagen Beetle car, valued at $1,945 dollars (about N308,283) . He earns a salary of $12,500 a month (N1,981,250), but only keeps $1,250(N198,125) for himself, donating the rest to charity.
He lives in a farmhouse which is under his wife’s name, Lucía Topolansky, a Senator, who also donates part of her salary.
The 77 year-old who has been Uruguay’s president since March 1, 2010 told El Mundo, “I do fine with that amount; I have to do fine because there are many Uruguayans who live with much less.”
It was also reported that under his stewardship, Uruguay has become known for low levels of corruption. The South American country ranks as the second least corrupt country in Latin America in Transparency International’s global corruption index.
Yahoo News reported that the President has no bank accounts, no debts, and he enjoys the companionship of his dog, Manuela. When his term is over, the President hopes to rest even more peacefully in his farmhouse, along with his wife and his inseparable dog.
There is something about leading by example. When you do, it becomes easier for other people to follow.
Here’s how it appeared on Yahoo News, although Most Generous President is a more apt monicker…
‘Poorest President’ Donates 90% of his Salary
By Claudine Zap, The Lookout – September 20, 2012
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/poorest-president-donates-90-salary-...
How’s this as a man of the people: The president of Uruguay, José Mujica, has earned a nickname, “el presidente mas pobre” (translation: “poorest president”).
The 77-year-old recently admitted to the Spanish newspaper El Mundo that he donates almost all of his presidential salary, making him the poorest, or, as Univision pointed out, most generous president, in the world.
El presidente explained he receives $12,500 a month but keeps only $1,250. The public servant told the newspaper, “I do fine with that amount; I have to do fine because there are many Uruguayans who live with much less.”
He and his wife—a senator who also donates part of her salary—live in a farmhouse in Montevideo. His biggest expense is his Volkswagen Beetle, valued at $1,945.
Perhaps not surprisingly, under the former guerrilla fighter, who was elected in 2010 as a member of the left-wing coalition, the Broad Front, the country has become known for being one of the least corrupt on the continent.
Mujica has no bank accounts and no debt, and he enjoys one thing money can’t buy: the companionship of his dog, Manuela.
The Uruguayan is not the first president to donate his salary. U.S. President John F. Kennedy, who came from wealth, donated his salary when in office, as did President Herbert Hoover. Hoover, who grew up poor, decided to never accept money for public service, so he could not be accused of corruption.
