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Known for his push to legalise cannabis, spartan lifestyle and devotion to his three-legged dog, Uruguay's outspoken President Jose "Pepe" Mujica has stepped down more popular than ever.
But after five years steering this South American nation of 3.3 million people, the 79-year-old former guerrilla leaves something of a mixed legacy for his successor, Tabare Vazquez, to build on.
"There's still so much to do, and I hope that the next government will be better than mine and will have greater success," Mujica said in an interview with a local newspaper on Thursday.
"I became president filled with idealism, but then reality hit."
The colourful rabble-rouser attracted international attention as much for his lifestyle as he did his policies.
Eschewing the trappings of power, Mujica insisted on living on his modest farm and driving around in an ageing Volkswagen Beetle.
He was more likely to be seen in a beret with scruffy clothes, having just got down from his tractor, than wearing a suit. He also gave most of his salary to charity. Mujica would sometimes unexpectedly speak with journalists about the rate of inflation or diplomatic relations. Or he'd tell them what he was preparing to feed his three-legged dog Manuela. The canine companion lost one foot when Mujica accidentally rolled over it with his tractor. She now goes everywhere with the president.
Under Mujica, Uruguay became the first country in the world to fully legalise marijuana all the way from the cannabis field to the joint, setting up a regulated market for cultivation, sales and use.
The leader was also known for his candid - and sometimes less-than-diplomatic - remarks.
A live microphone once caught him saying: "This old hag is worse than the one-eyed guy." It was a reference to Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and her late husband and former president, Nestor Kirchner, who had a lazy eye.
Nevertheless, Mujica often spoke of the need for improved regional ties - especially important for Uruguay, which is sandwiched between the giants Argentina and Brazil.
"I succeeded in putting Uruguay on the world map," Mujica said. On Saturday, his last day as president, Mujica reiterated his call for regional cooperation as he opened a binational wind farm with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
"We are very far from being integrated, but it's the first time that the governments of Latin America... are meeting, talking and agreeing," he said. Critics point to Mujica's shortcomings, including his failure to implement education reform.


Uruguay's outspoken President Jose 'Pepe' Mujica steps down from power

President Jose Mujica and his dog, Manuela. Photo: Reuters

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World

Known for his push to legalise cannabis, spartan lifestyle and devotion to his three-legged dog, Uruguay's outspoken President Jose "Pepe" Mujica has stepped down more popular than ever.
