Newly deposed president stated in an inaugural discourse on valuing democratic construction ‘at a time when exclusionary logic and expressions of distrust in traditional politics proliferate’
Applause burst out when Orsi recited the inauguration oath before Congress. Outside, in the main square of the city, thousands of Uruguayans watching their possession on giant screens shouted in support.
The ceremony took place three months after Orsi’s victory in a remarkably civilized electoral race between two moderates, praised as an antidote to the polarization that plagues the region. In his speech, he criticized the growing disappointment with democratic norms in Latin America, which resulted in a change to the right, from neighboring Argentina to El Salvador.
“We all know that we have to value our democratic construction at a time when exclusionary logic and expressions of distrust in traditional politics proliferate,” Orsi said in his inaugural speech against a meeting of national and foreign leaders at the Legislative Palace in Montevideo. He stated: “Let us always be adversaries, but never enemies. And let us distance ourselves as much as possible from cynicism. ”
The night before the ceremony, Orsi had dinner in Montevideo with his similar regional colleagues, including President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Gabriel Boric of Chile. The friendly scene has consolidated Orsi as the latest in the region of allied left leaders in the region – many of which have struggled in recent years to combat increasing inequality and stagnant growth.
Many Uruguayans saw Orsi as the nostalgic candidate, recalling the 15th anniversary of the Broad Front, between 2005 and 2020. During this time, the coalition presided over a historical cycle of economic growth that reduced poverty and consolidated the country’s pro-negotiation reputation. The coalition also launched pioneering social reforms that yielded Uruguay international acclaim, including legalization of abortion, same -sex marriage and recreational marijuana.
But in 2020, emerging problems such as growing inequality and increased crime inaugurated the Lacalle Pou Centro-right government with promises of swollen state reform. Last year, public frustration on the persistence of these problems helped end Lacalle Pou’s mandate, while an antisitual wave swept the world. Orsi promised to implement a “safe change” for the 3.5 million inhabitants of Uruguay. Now he faces a difficult act of equilibrium – between satisfying the demands of his most radical voters, who have requested the discontinuation of some of the previous government’s cost cutting measures, while increasing competitiveness to stimulate the necessary economic development.
“The country needs to recover a growth path that manages not only a larger amount, but also quality of work,” he said. “This allows a decent wage floor and, with that, a better income distribution.” With a fragmented coalition, experts say that many of Orsi’s positions will be clear only after he takes office and is forced to make difficult political choices. “The business community is adopting an attitude of observing and seeing until it is clear whether Orsi is in charge or if its more aggressive leftist base is in charge,” said Uruguayan economist Arturo C. Porzecanski, a global member of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
“If Orsi does not go over and measures that delay the clock are approved, it will decrease the economic perspective for the coming years.” Maintaining a tight budget will make it difficult to meet the expectations of the unionists who have promoted a controversial referendum to increase pensions and reverse the old government’s decision to increase the legal age of retirement from 60 to 65. Orsi recognized the challenge in his speech, saying, “A lot of dialogue, an extended hand and the ability to understand the different sensibilities expressed by our community will be necessary.”
*With information from Estadão Content
Posted by Victor Oliveira
