The one from Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvavisited the former Uruguayan president Jose Mujica at his residence in Rincón del Cerro on Thursday afternoon, taking advantage of the occasion to also meet with the president-elect Yamandu Orsi. This meeting, which lasted approximately two hours, brought together three fundamental figures in regional politics, generating an enriching atmosphere of dialogue and camaraderie.
During the meeting, Lula showed his appreciation for Mujica by giving him the prestigious National Order of the Southern Crossan award that Brazil grants to outstanding foreign personalities. In a later press conference, Lula praised Mujica, describing him as “the most extraordinary person I have ever met” and an exceptional “comrade.”.
Mujica, grateful for this recognition, expressed his humility by stating: “I am not a man of awards or medals; I am a man of the people. I have done what I could for my people, and nothing more. But this is a friend of many years,” illustrating his dedication to community service and his preference for actions over recognition.
A meeting of many that have had
Lula also shared that, throughout his career, he has met numerous Latin American presidents, but his bond with Mujica sets him apart from the rest. “I always tried to build friendships with my peers, but Mujica stands out among them”commented in the presence of Orsi, Mujica and the former vice president Lucia Topolansky.
In the development of the conversation, Mujica emphasized the need to address the “enormous social debts with the most vulnerable in America” and expressed his hope that this situation could be remedied. He stressed that Latin America is a continent with abundant resources and requested the support of the media to make these challenges visible: “Thank you, Lula, for your life; I hope you can continue living and repeating these values.”
This meeting marked the second time that Orsi met with Lula since his electoral victory on November 24. The previous week, Orsi had made his first trip abroad to Brazil. Upon returning, he highlighted that the day was “very productive and intense”highlighting that Lula reaffirmed his commitment to support and collaboration in key projects, such as the Yaguarón Bridge and the dredging of San Gonzalo, which had been prioritized by former president Luis Lacalle Pou, although they were delayed due to flooding in the area.
The president-elect also promised to reactivate a high-level group that had been deactivated by the previous Brazilian government (of the far-right Jair Bolsonaro), noting that the new government is determined to facilitate the resolution of pending issues that need attention and acceleration.
