What does Yamandú Orsi do with the most controversial leaders of the regional left?

Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi joins the summit of progressive leaders in Chile with Boric, Lula, Petro, and Sánchez. The meeting promotes multilateralism, but also raises alarm about the Uruguayan government's ideological shift.

High-level summit of leftist leaders: Orsi, Lula, Petro, Boric, and Pedro Sánchez

On July 21, Chile's La Moneda Palace will host a "high-level meeting" that is far from a mere diplomatic encounter. Participating will be Presidents Gabriel Boric (Chile), Gustavo Petro (Colombia), Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Brazil), Pedro Sánchez (Spain), and, for the first time as head of state, Yamandú Orsi (Uruguay). The meeting, under the pompous title "Democracy Always ," is presented as an agenda for multilateralism and social justice, but in reality, it represents a clear regrouping of the Latin American and European left.

In the name of democracy, these leaders will seek to establish a common ideological bloc that "combats disinformation," "regulates emerging technologies," and "strengthens multilateralism." However, behind this pleasant narrative lies a worrying coordinated push to impose a single vision of state power, justify opaque regulations, and suppress criticism under the pretext of extremism.

Orsi enters the big game, but on which side?

With his participation, Orsi makes it clear that Uruguay will no longer be a neutral spectator in the geopolitical chess game. He is openly aligning himself with a bloc that has already demonstrated covert authoritarian practices in the name of inclusion and progressivism. Is this the "new left" that seeks to set the country's course? Or is it a dangerous rehash of failed formulas that stifled freedoms and dynamited entire economies?

The meeting is not innocent. It is a direct continuation of the forum "In Defense of Democracy, Fighting Extremism," promoted by Lula and Sánchez in 2024. It laid the groundwork for a common narrative: anything that opposes their policies will be labeled extremist or disinformation.

Censorship disguised as regulation

One of the central themes of the summit will be the "regulation of emerging technologies." This sounds good until you review the background: in practice, it involves mechanisms of control over social networks, independent media, and critical platforms. A "progressive" censorship model disguised as digital ethics.

Where is freedom of expression? Who defines "disinformation"? Is it the same governments that manipulate statistics, hide data, and buy addicted press with public funds?

The price of geopolitical obedience

Orsi takes the risk of aligning himself with a group that is beginning to be viewed with suspicion in much of the democratic world. Instead of defending Uruguay's pluralist tradition, he decides to jump on the bandwagon of prefabricated speeches, photo ops, and vague commitments that do nothing to benefit ordinary citizens.

These kinds of meetings aren't state meetings; they're ideological maneuvers. The problem is that when ideological fire is played at the regional level, the costs aren't borne by the politicians, they are borne by the people. We've already seen this in Argentina, Peru, and Venezuela. What more do we need to learn?

Conclusion: It's not a meeting, it's a warning

Uruguay must be alert. Orsi's entry into this circle of power is not a diplomatic anecdote, it's a political sign. The country is moving closer to a regional power architecture where democracy is defined at the convenience of those in power, and dissent is pursued with algorithms and decrees.

Do we want Uruguay to follow that path? The answer isn't in the halls of La Moneda, it lies in informed citizens. And this article is just the beginning.

Generic file photo: leaders meeting at a previous summit. Source: Presidential Press