The Poorest President

When Dateline normally interviews world leaders, the setting is a grand presidential palace or imposing parliament building, but not for David O'Shea's profile of Uruguayan President José Mujica.

The 79-year-old still lives in the ramshackle one bedroom farmhouse he's shared with his wife for 30 years, and as chickens peck round the garden chairs, he gives his very progressive take on world affairs.

The former guerrilla leader, who spent 13 years in prison, has legalised gay marriage and marijuana, and courted controversy by agreeing with Barack Obama to accept prisoners from Guantanamo Bay.

He and his wife, Senator Lucia Topolansky, have become a formidable force in Uruguyan politics, but after donating 90% of his salary to charity, he's happy to drive home in his trusty old VW Beetle to tend to his animals.

In a world where politicians aren't always held in high esteem, could this man of the people be showing the way forward? And when his term ends in March 2015, will his successor be following in his footsteps?

A few weeks after this story was broadcast, an Arab sheikh reportedly offered President Mujica $1 million for his old Volkswagen. The president is said to have indicated that he will sell it, but would give all the money to charity.

Prochain épisode

S2014E33 - Unknown