Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez and Brazilian President Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva are convening global leftist leaders in Barcelona for a \u201cMeeting in Defence of Democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Brazil\u2019s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will head a meeting of leftist leaders on Saturday in Barcelona, seeking to rally against the threat to democracy from the far right.<\/p>\n
The gathering comes as democratic institutions and values have faced growing threats around the globe from advancing authoritarian and far-right forces in the age of US President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
Among those scheduled to attend the \u201cMeeting in Defence of Democracy\u201d are South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mexico\u2019s Claudia Sheinbaum and European Council chief Antonio Costa.<\/p>\n
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Both Sanchez and Lula, who are facing growing far-right challenges ahead of upcoming election campaigns, are vocal critics of the Trump administration.<\/p>\n
But in an interview with Spanish daily newspaper El Pais ahead of the gathering, Lula stressed it is \u201cnot going to be an anti-Trump meeting\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we want is to talk and see if we can find a solution to strengthen the democratic process in the world, so that we don\u2019t allow any setbacks,\u201d he added during a joint news conference with Sanchez on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause when there is a setback, a Hitler happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sanchez has said he hopes the event \u201cwill provide the basis for all progressive forces in the world to unite. Our unity will be our strength\u201d.<\/p>\n
– Hungarian inspiration –<\/p>\n
The Barcelona gathering will be held on the same day as a meeting of far-right European leaders in Milan in Italy.<\/p>\n
It follows the defeat of Hungarian nationalist leader Viktor Orban in a general election on Sunday, seen as a setback for Europe\u2019s far-right parties that had looked to him as a model.<\/p>\n
Progressives have hailed the result as proof that entrenched populist governments can be defeated at the ballot box.<\/p>\n
The Barcelona event was launched by Brazil and Spain in 2024 after far-right parties made significant gains in European Parliament elections.<\/p>\n
The first two editions of this event were held at the United Nations and the previous one was held in Chile last year.<\/p>\n
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Many of the participants will take part in the first edition of the so-called \u201cGlobal Progressive Mobilisation\u201d which will be held in the same venue.<\/p>\n
Some 3,000 people, including current and former heads of state,\u00a0mayors, union representatives and researchers from more than 40 countries are expected to take part.<\/p>\n
The event is being held under the auspices of the Socialist International, which is headed by Sanchez.<\/p>\n
Both Lula and Sanchez will address this gathering, which will feature talks on issues such as income inequality, the green transition and how progressives can improve their election results.<\/p>\n
Sanchez, in power since 2018, has emerged as a prominent figure for Europe\u2019s disillusioned progressives, who see him as one of the few remaining openly leftist voices in a continent increasingly dominated by right-wing politics.<\/p>\n
His vigorous criticism of Israel, championing of immigration and staunch opposition to the US-Israeli war on Iran have bolstered his image as a left-wing hero.<\/p>\n
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)<\/p>\n
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First Published:
\nApril 18, 2026, 12:47 IST<\/p>\n
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