Former Uruguay President Mujica to receive decoration from Argentina’s government

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The former President of Uruguay José Mujica (2010-2015) traveled this Wednesday (27) to Argentina to receive, on behalf of the government of President Alberto Fernández, the Collar of the Order of the Liberator San Martín.

In a ceremony that will take place at 12 noon, according to the official agenda of the Casa Rosada, the former Uruguayan President will be decorated with a distinction reserved for foreign officials who, in the exercise of their functions, highly deserve the honor and recognition of the Nation.

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Last year, this award was granted to him but could not be delivered due to the Covid-19 health crisis.

As explained to Efe by Mujica’s doctor, Raquel Pannone, the former president “traveled early” in the helicopter sent by the Argentine government in a flight that lasts only 35 minutes between the two capitals.

“It is only a day trip”, so he does not need unique accompaniment for the transfer. However, during the visit, Pannone urged him and those around him to “take extreme precautions”, such as the constant use of masks to avoid contagion of Covid-19.

“Here we are increasing the cases again, and in Buenos Aires, they are no better, so it is a matter of avoiding those contagions. People often want to take pictures with him, and then they relax a little bit the care,” the doctor said.

“He is well, in good condition, according to his age, of course. The trip to Buenos Aires is concise, we are very close to there, and the care will be as usual,” the doctor said.

Mujica, 86, has been retired from public political life since October 2020, when he resigned his seat in the Uruguayan Senate – won in the October 2019 elections – on the same day as his political adversary and also former President of the Republic Julio María Sanguinetti (1985-1990 and 1995-2000).

Suffering from an immunological disease he contracted when he was imprisoned between 1973 and 1985 for his activity as a guerrilla in the Tupamaros National Liberation Movement (MLN-T), the former President was able to complete his vaccination schedule last July.