The 10 Phrases Lacalle Pou Left on His Return: Freedom, Politics, Unity, and a 'Less Orthodox' View

Luis Lacalle Pou, Uruguay's President, re-emerged into the political arena with a notable speech at a National Party event, breaking a prolonged period of low public engagement. His address offered several key definitions on politics, freedom, and the future direction of his party, touching upon topics ranging from artificial intelligence to the nature of political authority.

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Si la política es más lenta que las necesidades de la gente, no es la gente la que tiene que frenar, es la política la que tiene que apurarse en dar soluciones.

During his speech, Lacalle Pou acknowledged a shift in his own political philosophy, stating he had become "increasingly less orthodox." He clarified that this evolution did not signify a change in his core values or principles but rather a practical adaptation. He argued that adhering strictly to orthodoxy can be detached from the realities faced by citizens struggling with unemployment, housing, healthcare, and raising families. "It's nice to be orthodox and talk about freedom when someone doesn't have a job, doesn't have a home, doesn't have health, and can't raise their children," he remarked, highlighting the need for practical, people-centered solutions.

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La inteligencia artificial tiene y debe y puede y abracémosla como una manera de acelerar la política y que sea mejor y que se resuelvan antes los problemas.

The President stressed the importance of political action keeping pace with societal needs, stating, "If politics is slower than people's needs, it's not the people who have to slow down, it's politics that has to hurry up in providing solutions." He also advocated for embracing artificial intelligence as a tool to accelerate political processes and improve problem-solving. Furthermore, Lacalle Pou emphasized that governing requires genuine understanding, gained through direct interaction and empathy with the populace's aspirations and struggles.

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Firme con las ideas y suave con las personas. Porque siempre que alguien no puede sostener sus ideas, o que no las quiere o que no las sabe expresar, recurre al agravio.

He also spoke about unity, likening it to the collective efforts seen in local communities striving for essential services like dental chairs or ambulances. He differentiated between uniting people and dividing them during electoral campaigns, suggesting that true unity in government stems from avoiding division. Lacalle Pou concluded by defining authority not merely as power, but as an "intellectual, affective" construction built over time through understanding and connection, essential for effective governance.

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Me he vuelto cada vez menos ortodoxo. Que no quiere decir que mis valores y principios los ande cambiando según conveniencia, pero en la práctica soy cada vez menos ortodoxo. Porque qué lindo ser ortodoxo y hablar de libertad cuando alguien no tiene laburo, no tiene casa, no tiene salud y no puede criar a sus hijos.