BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Progressive and traditional democratic leaders convened in Barcelona on Saturday to address the urgent need to restore faith in the liberal order, which is increasingly threatened by a global shift toward far-right extremism and ongoing conflicts. The event was hosted by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump and the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, at a convention center in Spain's second city.
The Fourth Meeting in Defense of Democracy attracted several high-profile attendees, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Colombian President Gustavo Petro, along with leaders and high-ranking officials from ten other countries. British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was also present.
While discussions largely avoided direct references to Trump during the press sessions, the influential impact of his unilateral approach to foreign policy loomed large over the event. Sánchez remarked on the concerning trend of attacks against the multilateral system, highlighting attempts to undermine international law and the dangerous normalization of the use of force. He emphasized the need to reinforce the multilateral order, which includes reforming the United Nations, regulating social media to curb hate speech and disinformation, and addressing growing economic inequality.
Sánchez stated, "We all share the vision that democracy is the best system to respond to the complexities of our societies." The event, initiated by Brazil, Spain, and Chile in 2024, aims to provide a platform for exchanging ideas that combat the extremism, polarization, and misinformation that threaten participatory democracy.
Later in the day, attendees were set to participate in the inaugural Global Progressive Mobilization, where around 3,000 left-leaning elected officials and policy analysts would exchange ideas and insights. This gathering took place just after Sánchez and Lula held a separate summit at a former royal palace in Barcelona to discuss their shared concerns about the global landscape, shaken by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Israel's military actions in Gaza, and the conflict in Iran, which has disrupted oil and natural gas markets.
Sánchez and Lula are among the few progressive leaders who have managed to maintain popularity in their countries amid a broader global trend toward right-wing governance. They continue to champion multilateral agreements, human rights, environmental protections, and gender equality—values often challenged by Trump, alongside Argentina's libertarian President Javier Milei and Europe's far-right movements. The significance of these discussions underscores a desire among like-minded leaders to confront and counteract these growing threats to democracy on a global scale.
