Valeria Ripoll launches Somos political group in Uruguay

Valeria Ripoll, former vice-presidential candidate, has launched a new political group within Uruguay's National Party called ‘Somos Nuevas Ideas’ (or simply ‘Somos’). The group is part of the D Centro sector, led by Paysandú Mayor Nicolás Olivera.

Ripoll aims to expand party participation by recruiting new leaders and focusing on grassroots work within neighborhoods. The group's name draws inspiration from the ‘Nuevas Ideas’ party of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, though Ripoll noted this does not mean a total adoption of his security model.

A central pillar of the group's agenda is addressing the Uruguayan penitentiary system. Ripoll criticized the current state of national prisons, citing overcrowding and human rights concerns. She advocated for the applicability of El Salvador’s ‘zero leisure’ system for common criminals while also emphasizing the need for rehabilitation through work and study opportunities for inmates.