A right-wing liberal social media campaign, in which PPL took part, made the caste flee from its own delusions
For weeks, the government and business sectors had been preparing a restriction against Temu, the online shopping platform that has increased access to products for thousands of Uruguayans, allowing them to acquire a greater variety at a lower price.
It wasn't a rumor: it was a decision already made. Protectionist pressure was advancing quietly, supported by the old narrative of "protecting the national interest," which usually translates into protecting the powerful from competition.
But this time, the story was different. The public's reaction on social media was immediate, massive, and effective. The Platform for Freedom led a clear campaign in defense of the right to choose, which overwhelmed the official narrative. Under pressure, the Ministry of Economy was forced to backtrack and declare that it had no plans to restrict Temu. An implicit admission that it was indeed considering it.
This episode demonstrates that liberalism isn't an abstract theory, but a concrete force when it becomes civic action. There was no need to negotiate privileges or request permissions: it was enough to remember that political power has limits when citizens take a stand. Today, the freedom to shop was defended; tomorrow, it could be the freedom to start a business, to educate, or to express oneself.
The message is clear: not a single step back in the face of a prohibitive State.
