The wake took place in the Hall of Lost Steps of the emblematic building that houses the Uruguayan Parliament, where Mujica fought as a deputy and senator.

The doors of the Palace closed at 1:00 a.m. today, after more than 5,000 Uruguayans of various political persuasions, as well as foreigners, filed past the coffin.

The path followed by the mourners was flanked by numerous wreaths of flowers from diverse origins.

The day before, at least 40 ambassadors and representatives of international organizations offered their condolences to President Yamandú Orsi and Mujica’s widow, former Vice President Lucia Topolansky.

There is no set time for the end of the wake today, and several presidents will arrive starting this afternoon, including Brazil’s Inácio Lula da Silva, Chile’s Gabriel Boric, and Bolivia’s Luis Arce.

The final remarks will be given by writer Mauricio Rosencof, also a former Tupamaro guerrilla and fellow prisoner of José Mujica.

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