Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, also known as Lula, warned on Friday against the risk of a “Hitler appearing” when “democracy recedes”. This statement was made on the eve of a summit of progressive leaders in Barcelona organized by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
“What we want is to discuss to see if we can find a solution to strengthen the democratic process in the world, in order to prevent a setback. Because when democracy recedes, a Hitler emerges,” Lula said during a joint press conference with the Spanish Socialist leader at the end of the first Spain-Brazil summit.
Lula emphasized that “democracy must go beyond voting and bring tangible benefits to people’s lives”. Meanwhile, Pedro Sánchez once again called to “renew” and “improve” the international multilateral system, in the face of those “who, either actively or passively, consider it dead or work to undermine its foundations”.
Sánchez highlighted that “this peace and the values that support it are under attack by this reactionary wave, authoritarian regimes, disinformation, threats that endanger the solidity of our democratic institutions”. He also pointed out the free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur countries, including Brazil, as an example of “openness, mutual trust, shared prosperity” in “an increasingly fragmented world”.
According to Sánchez, Spain and Brazil are seen as “engines that bring the European Union even closer to Latin America and the Caribbean, two regions that share values, essential aspirations, and have much to gain from working together”. In total, 15 bilateral agreements were signed on Friday in Barcelona between Spain and Brazil, particularly focusing on combating crime, discrimination, violence against women, as well as economic cooperation and AI matters.
