The region’s strongest democracy offers many lessons, including the value of a robust social safety net. It was a scene that inspired admiration, and not a little envy, throughout Latin America. At the inauguration of the president of Brazil on January 1st, 2023, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, not one, but three presidents of Uruguay were present: the current president, Luis Lacalle Pouas, well as the former presidents Jose “Pepe” Mujica (2010-2015) and Julio Maria Sanguinetti (1985-1990; 1995-2000),…