Barcelona hosted a world meeting of progressive leaders on Friday and Saturday with the ambition of reinvigorating international coordination in response to the rise of radical right-wing movements amid strong political tensions globally.
Pedro Sánchez, whose international image was bolstered by his opposition to Netanyahu and Trump’s policies, concluded the meeting with a call for “peace not war,” echoed by some attendees. The Spanish Prime Minister, frequently targeted by the Spanish right and far-right in a climate of internal political confrontation, expressed grand ambitions at the end of this “worldwide progressive mobilization.” “The time of the right is over,” he declared, promising “a new era of progress.”
Sánchez, the host of the meeting and portrayed by his supporters as a central figure in a reconfigured progressive resistance, called for a “coordinated” response to defend democratic institutions and reduce inequalities. “We must act together,” he stated.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva showed support for this initiative to structure a global progressive space. Lula praised it as “something extraordinary.”
Defense of International Law
Beyond economic and social issues, several leaders emphasized the defense of international law as a common foundation against unilateral dynamics. Sheinbaum called for “respecting common rules between nations,” while Sánchez and Lula da Silva highlighted the importance of a multilateral order based on shared norms.
These statements come at a time marked by the rise of the far right and a perceived hardening of power dynamics, including the return of Donald Trump to American politics. They also reflect the increasing presence of nationalist movements in various regions of the world.
and Multilateralism
Though not explicitly named, the former American president was indirectly referenced in several speeches, seen as a response to challenges facing multilateral institutions and international law. Sánchez, adopting a proactive stance, said that these forces “cry out because they know their time is coming to an end.” Participants stressed the need to strengthen international cooperation, regulate major economic powers, and promote more redistributive policies.
This initiative is presented by its promoters as a first step to re-energize a progressive camp often seen as fragmented and defensive. Against the rise of the far right, Catalonia’s President, Salvadore Illa, called for resistance: “Let us not forget that all waves, no matter how big, eventually crash on the shore.”
A Bubble or a Beginning?
In the Spanish press, El País refers to the “consecration” of Pedro Sánchez on the international stage, while El Mundo underscores the primarily symbolic nature of the meeting and questions its real impact. These differing views reflect a highly polarized political and media environment. For now, what took place in Barcelona appears to be an attempt to reinvigorate progressivism on a global scale.
In a politically charged context, some speakers implicitly refer to a return to confrontational logic reminiscent of the 1930s, marked by the rise of nationalism and the weakening of collective security mechanisms.
The summit expressed a desire to articulate themes of international law, regulation of economic powers, and multilateralism, as well as democracy as a common political framework. Amid critical and enthusiastic interpretations, the meeting oscillates between two views: one of a “political bubble” without immediate concrete translation, and another of the beginning of a reconfiguration of a still fragmented global progressive space.
