A coalition of leftist leaders from Latin America and Europe used the United Nations stage this week to rally against the global rise of conservative movements. Presidents from Chile, Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay joined Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for an event titled “In Defense of Democracy, Combating Extremism” on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Conspicuously absent from the event was U.S. President Donald Trump, who earlier in the week delivered a hard-hitting address at the General Assembly. Instead, the gathering featured representatives from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and Bolivia, alongside European Council President António Costa. The event also honored the late socialist president of Uruguay, José “Pepe” Mujica, described as a mentor to current Uruguayan leader Yamandú Orsi.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric moderated the session and called for a “reform of multilateralism” to establish a “new system of international governance.” He emphasized initiatives involving climate policy, international youth networks, digital regulation, and fiscal cooperation. Boric argued that progressive governments offer “greater social peace” and “defend human rights,” asking why leftist governance supposedly produces more equitable growth than conservative leadership.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva used his remarks to reflect on his decades in politics while questioning why conservatives have gained ground worldwide. “Why have we allowed the far-right to grow as strongly as it is? Is it their virtue or our incompetence?” he asked. Lula accused left-wing governments of diluting their agenda to appease markets and opponents rather than mobilizing grassroots supporters. He warned that unless the left corrects these mistakes, “we will continue to be suffocated by the denialism, extremism, and fascist rhetoric we are seeing now.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro—who recently accused President Trump of “murder” at the UN—attacked Trump’s speech again, claiming it spread “fear and lies.” Petro insisted that fear of climate change, free women, and migration drives young people toward conservatism, which he branded as “irrational” and “barbaric.”
Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez announced that Madrid will host the group’s next meeting in 2026.
The event’s central message portrayed conservatism and nationalism as existential threats, framing leftist governance as the only legitimate defense of democracy. However, critics argue that these leaders are redefining “democracy” to mean centralized international governance, climate radicalism, and social engineering—while ignoring their own records of censorship, economic mismanagement, and persecution of political opponents, including conservatives such as Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro.
