Buenos Aires Herald 
Former Uruguayan President and Broad Front leader José “Pepe” Mujica has confirmed that the esophageal cancer he has been battling has spread to the rest of his body and compromised his liver.
“I cannot endure another biochemical treatment or surgery because my body can’t take it anymore,” he said.
“What I’m asking for is to be left alone. Don’t ask me to do interviews or anything else. My cycle is over. Sincerely, I’m dying. And a warrior is entitled to his rest,” Mujica told magazine Búsqueda.
Mujica explained that his esophageal cancer is “colonizing the liver” and that there is no way to stop it.
“For what? I’m a senior citizen, and I have two chronic diseases. I cannot endure another biochemical treatment or surgery because my body can’t take it anymore. I’m dying,” he said with tears in his eyes in front of his wife, Lucía Topolansky, the magazine reported.
The former president is currently recovering from a surgical procedure he endured on December 27 to implant a stent in the esophagus. The goal was to improve his ability to orally ingest food and drink, which had been compromised by his cancer treatment.
Mujica, the leader of the party Movimiento de Participación Popular of President-elect Yamandú Orsi, said he has asked doctors to not make him “suffer in vain.” “Drug me up, and when it’s time to die, I die. It’s that simple,” he said. He defined himself as an “old man at the end,” whose only desire was to work the land on his farm and “bid farewell to his countrymen and friends.”
During the interview, Mujica celebrated the life he has led, highlighting the fact that he is four months shy of his 90th birthday.
“I ride the tractor everyday, even if it’s just a symbolic gesture, and I’m trying to leave all my affairs in order for those who will remain on the farm. I bought a new tractor for US$28,000. For those who will stay and live here. I want to leave them new stuff. I don’t have children, but I will still leave descendants.”
He added that his intention was to die on his farm. “There’s a big sequoia out there [planted from a seed he was gifted]. Manuela [his dog] is buried here. I’m doing all the paperwork so that they can also bury me here. And that’s that.”
Mujica’s farewell message
The former president and senator said he wished to bid farewell to his countrymen.
“It’s easy to respect those that think like you, but we must learn that the foundation of democracy is respect for those who think differently. Because of that, my countrymen are in the first category, and to them I say farewell. I hug you all,” Mujica said, who also offered a reflection on politics.
“In second place, I say goodbye to my comrades, sympathizers, and everyone else. I haven’t been to a political office in five years. The social and political reality does not play out on my farm. But… I have my sympathies, and I give a hand whenever I can. But I’m not an old consultant that they have to get permission from. On the contrary, the comrades who lead the party are them,” he stated.
