Present as one of the most anticipated figures at the American Liberty Forum, the liberal meeting developed by the Development Studies Center (CED) last week at the hotel Enjoy Punta del Estethe former Argentine Minister of Economy and current national deputy Ricardo Lopez Murphy He expressed his admiration for the Uruguayan political system and society, which he considered a reference for the region.
– What space is there today for liberal ideas in the region and very specifically in the Río de la Plata?
I think there is space. First, because growth opportunities are closely linked to these ideas. That vision requires, like the idea of attracting resources, integrating ourselves into the world of services and information technology and the digital world. An attitude of freedom, creativity and entrepreneurship. The big problem that this part of the world has is low entrepreneurshipWe have very few SMEs, especially small companies compared to other countries, and that is decisive for growth and innovation.
–The table in which you participated in the American Liberty Forum spoke of Uruguay as “a beacon of liberalism” for the region. Because?
–I say more than that. It is an open society, a free society due to the quality of its institutions, due to the quality of its political system, due to its macroeconomic orderfor its bass risk countryInter alia.
The country risk summarizes, ultimately, the evaluation that locals and strangers make of the predictability of his policies. And I believe that this has become a formidable asset for Uruguay compared to the rest of the region.
Q: And what should the Uruguayan region learn then?
It seems to me that this combination of macroeconomic discipline with the seriousness of their political parties, stability, respect for institutions, respect for the division of powers, transparency, alternation in power.
All those values so natural to the republican democracies which, I believe, are a valuable legacy for humanity, because the great progress and prosperity of countries has occurred under those rules.
– Is it possible to be beyond the “cracks” then?
I generally did not argue about these things, what I do believe is that there are people who have a position close to authoritarian regimes, that is, it is not only that they are statists, but that they dream of a monopoly of ideas. It seems to me that this model is like a penitentiary and I would not accept it.
– What vision do you have of President Luis Lacalle Pou and the coalition government?
Q: I have a good opinion in general of the institutions of the Uruguayan political system and the success they have had. I highly respect the action that you have carried out, but in general I try to emphasize the institutional quality in parties, in predictability, in matters that extend beyond a period of government.
Source: Ambito
