Former Presidents Lacalle and Sanguinetti Decry Social Media Impunity and 'Governing by Twitter'

Former Uruguayan presidents Luis Alberto Lacalle de Herrera and Julio María Sanguinetti have voiced strong concerns about the detrimental impact of social media on contemporary political discourse during the World Summit on Political Communication in Montevideo. Their critique focused on the pervasive issue of anonymity online, which they argue fosters cowardice, insults, and a lack of responsibility, thereby poisoning political life.

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uno de los grandes temas a dilucidar es el anonimato de las redes, el cual “fomenta la cobardía, el insulto, la falta de responsabilidad, el exacerbar a la gente”.

Lacalle de Herrera specifically lamented the "impunity" with which individuals can spread baseless claims and insults, calling for remedies to this digital malaise. Sanguinetti echoed these sentiments, referencing Umberto Eco's observation that social media gives a platform to "any imbecile," leading to a situation where citizens increasingly see themselves as their own representatives, bypassing traditional political structures.

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Se dice cualquier barbaridad sobre la persona con una impunidad que hay que buscarle remedio

The former leaders also cast a critical eye on the phenomenon of "governing by Twitter," decrying the trend of presidents issuing policy pronouncements or engaging in political communication at all hours, as exemplified by recent actions of leaders in the United States and Argentina. They argued that this mode of governance lacks the necessary pause for reflection, allowing impulsive thoughts to dictate public action. This discussion highlights a growing unease in Uruguay and beyond about the erosion of thoughtful deliberation in politics, replaced by the immediacy and often inflammatory nature of social media.

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las redes le dieron micrófono y eco a cualquier imbécil.