The summit in defense of democracy in Barcelona, one of the highlights of a weekend that brings together progressive leaders from around the world in the Catalan capital, has shown an unprecedented unity among leaders from different political traditions such as Pedro Sánchez, the Brazilian Lula da Silva, the Mexican Claudia Sheinbaum, the Colombian Gustavo Petro, and the South African Cyril Ramaphosa with a common message against Donald Trump, who is not mentioned but is indirectly present in all speeches. The Spanish Prime Minister, the main protagonist of the meeting, which thus consolidates his role as a prominent figure of international progressivism, has called on all leaders to firmly defend peace, the international order, and democracy, which, given the current tense situation, should not be taken for granted, as he explained.
“Democracy cannot be taken for granted,” Sánchez insisted before the progressive leaders. “Today we see a dangerous normalization of the use of force. Inequality and misinformation are growing within our societies. The risk is that democracy is emptied from within. It is not enough to resist, we have to propose, lead, we have to show that democracy can be strengthened,” emphasized the Spanish president.
Sánchez made several proposals to relaunch progressive ideas and also to reform international institutions, especially the UN. Both the Spanish leader and the Brazilian Lula, who yesterday held an unprecedented bilateral summit with about ten ministers from each country, agree that the UN must be changed so that it is no longer controlled by five countries, the victors of World War II, among which are precisely those who least respect the UN’s rules, such as Russia or the USA. “We believe in an international order based on rules. But the multilateral system needs to be renewed. The UN will only survive if it represents reality. We need a more democratic, more representative UN. The time has come for the UN to be renewed and led by a woman,” Sánchez declared.
The Spanish leader, like other presidents who spoke in the corridors of the summit, claimed that this meeting has expanded and is becoming a major reference for the reunification of progressives. “What began as a dialogue space, launched by presidents Lula, Boric, Orsi, today is a political community under construction, a group of countries willing to do whatever is necessary to protect the democratic system,” Sánchez insisted, who also highlighted the other two main pillars of this event: the fight for a livable internet and policies against inequality. “Technology does not govern itself. Without rules, technology divides us. We cannot accept that misinformation conditions our societies or that algorithms reward hate,” he concluded.
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The organization also made the speech of the Mexican Sheinbaum publicly available, who spoke first after Sánchez precisely because she is the great novelty. The Mexican rarely travels outside her country, and her arrival in Barcelona is a gesture of closeness with Sánchez and a closure of the diplomatic crisis between Mexico and Spain. Additionally, Sheinbaum offered Mexico as the next host of this democracy defense summit, a political gesture of interest in this emerging progressive movement.
“I come to this summit for democracy on behalf of a working people, who have learned to resist, to believe in peace, a humane people who resist individualism,” the Mexican began. “In a world wounded by war, these democratic principles are hope, they are freedom. But what freedom? The freedom to submit to external interests? The freedom to turn nations into colonies? The freedom of the market without the state? Freedom is an empty word if not accompanied by social justice. We believe in democracy, but not that of the elites, but that of the people. Democracy is democratizing access to culture, education, health. As Lincoln said, democracy is government of the people, by the people, for the people. I propose that 10% of military spending be dedicated to reforesting millions of hectares. Let us sow life, not war. Also, I propose a declaration against military intervention in Cuba. Democracy is love above hate. Life is not for sale, nor is freedom or the dignity of peoples,” Sheinbaum concluded.
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