Political analyst Álvaro Vargas Llosa and his siblings Morgana and Gonzalo, on the evening of April 13, announced via X the passing of their father: Mario Vargas Llosa. The Peruvian author and defender of classical liberalism died at the age of 88, leaving a legacy that shaped both literature and political thought in Hispanic America.
Con profundo dolor, hacemos público que nuestro padre, Mario Vargas Llosa, ha fallecido hoy en Lima, rodeado de su familia y en paz. @morganavll pic.twitter.com/mkFEanxEjA
— Álvaro Vargas Llosa (@AlvaroVargasLl) April 14, 2025
Vargas Llosa won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010 and played a central role in the Latin American literature boom, alongside Gabriel García Márquez, Julio Cortázar, and Carlos Fuentes. Well-known institutions around the world associated with literature and arts have honored his work with awards such as the Cervantes Prize (1994), the Prince of Asturias Award for Literature (1986), and the Rómulo Gallegos Prize (1967).
He published novels that reached more than 30 languages, and some of his novels—such as The Time of the Hero (La ciudad y los perros, 1963)—were adapted for the big screen. His literary talent earned him membership in prestigious institutions such as the Royal Spanish Academy (and its Peruvian branch), the French Academy, and the Brazilian Academy of Letters.
Although Vargas Llosa explored Marxist ideas in his youth, he later embraced classical liberalism and joined the political arena to defend individual and economic freedoms. In 1990, he ran for president of Peru but lost to Alberto Fujimori, who then ruled as a dictator.
After the election, he moved to Spain and deepened his political activism. In 2002, he cofounded the International Foundation for Freedom (FIL) with a group of liberal intellectuals. He served as president of the organization until his death, working closely with his son Álvaro.
Vargas Llosa and FIL hosted liberty-focused forums in the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Peru, and Spain—connecting political leaders across Hispanic America. Through this platform, he built strong ties with former presidents, including José María Aznar (Spain), Sebastián Piñera (Chile), and Guillermo Lasso (Ecuador). Madrid Mayor Isabel Díaz Ayuso paid tribute by sharing photos of their meetings and expressing condolences with the Vargas Llosa family.
Lamento profundamente la muerte del Nobel Vargas Llosa, gran pérdida para la literatura universal.
— Isabel Díaz Ayuso (@IdiazAyuso) April 14, 2025
Me siento muy honrada por haber compartido tantos momentos con este hombre generoso y libre.
Le echaremos mucho de menos. pic.twitter.com/7o5tBW3e7d
Vargas Llosa combined his intellectual brilliance with his moral commitment. Supporters of liberty witnessed both his literary genius and his deep humanity. In 2018, for instance, I had the opportunity to attend an event in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where he spoke with liberty advocate Dora Ampuero and banker Guillermo Lasso, who later became president.
Similarly, Claudia Amaya, a trade lawyer and twice congressional candidate with the Liberal Party of Honduras, remembers meeting him at a banquet in Madrid in 2016. She shared this reflection with Impunity Observer:
“A defender of liberty in Latin America has died. Mario Vargas Llosa transcended borders with his writings. We, his readers and fellow thinkers, will always remember him. It was an honor to celebrate his 80th birthday with him in Madrid.”
