Statement was given in Barcelona, where several international leaders will meet on Saturday (18), headed by the Spanish head of government, Pedro Sánchez
The president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned that, when democracy retreats, “a Hitler happens“, urging strengthen it in meetings like the one called for this Saturday (18) in Barcelonawhich will be attended by several international leaders, led by the Spanish head of government, Pedro Sánchez.
“What we want is to discuss to see if we can find a solution to strengthen the democratic process in the world. So that we do not allow a setback. Because when there is a setback, a Hitler happens,” said Lula at a press conference alongside socialist Pedro Sánchez, in Barcelona.
Previously, the plenary of the 1st Spain-Brazil Summit took place, which was attended by around twelve ministers from each countryand in which several bilateral agreements were signed in areas such as critical minerals, combating violence against women and scientific cooperation.
“Our countries are called to be engines that bring the European Union even closer to Latin America and the Caribbean”, highlighted Sánchez about this meeting held at the Pedralbes Palace, which represents the first bilateral summit of this level that Spain holds with a Latin American country.
“While others open wounds, what we want is precisely to close and heal them, and dedicate ourselves to what is important”, he added.
The meeting precedes the IV Forum in Defense of Democracy, which will be held on Saturday morning in Barcelona, and for which the presence of leaders from different countries is expectedlike the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum; the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro; and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa.
This is the fourth meeting of this initiative launched by Lula and Sánchez in 2024which seeks to boost collaboration between countries in favor of multilateralism.
“Today, it is evident that this peace and the values that sustain it are being attacked by this reactionary wave, by authoritarians, by disinformation, evils that threaten the solidity of our democratic institutions,” said Sánchez.
The meeting also coincides with the Global Progressive Mobilization (GPM) forum, a meeting of left-wing forces, union movements and thinkers that takes place in parallel in Barcelona.
At the closing of the forum, on Saturday, Lula and Sánchez are expected to speak again.
