Uruguayan here. The state has multiple monopolies on products including refining gas (there is one price for gas all over the country and its set by government

Uruguayan here. The state has multiple monopolies on products including refining gas (there is one price for gas all over the country and its set by government), telecommunications (all phone and internet goes through Antel the government agency), water (OSE) along with a couple of others. I think the main population concern is what this will mean for the price, quantity and quality of the product given that most of the other monopolies are known for their mediocre service, squandering of resources and mild internal corruption. I say mild because in comparison to the rest of South America Uruguay has the lowest corruption level but there is still clear favoritism within government agencies, very lazy workers (they can't get fired). The main argument against the current legislation is that allowing private companies to produce the product (like tobacco) and applying high taxes would be way more efficient and that there is little belief that the government could efficiently pull off this operation.