Statement to the press by President Lula following the High-Level Meeting “Democracy Always” in Chile

This meeting at La Moneda Palace, alongside Presidents Boric, Pedro Sánchez, Petro, and Yamandú, holds special symbolic significance.

It was here that Chilean democracy suffered one of the bloodiest attacks in the history of Latin America.

Our countries are all too familiar with the horrors of dictatorships that killed, persecuted, and tortured.

The path to reclaiming democracy and freedom was long.

Democracies are not built overnight.

Safeguarding collective interests is a permanent task.

We are witnessing a new anti-democratic offensive.

In response to this movement, Spain and Brazil held a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September of last year.

Since then, the situation in the world has worsened.

The situation we face demands concrete and urgent actions.

Today’s meeting, organized by President Boric, is a step in that direction.

Liberal democracy has failed to meet contemporary aspirations and needs.

Simply going through the electoral ritual every four or five years is no longer enough.

The political system and parties have fallen into disrepute.

For this reason, we discussed strengthening democratic institutions and multilateralism in the face of the successive attacks they have been enduring.

We agreed on the need to regulate digital platforms and combat misinformation, in order to restore the state's ability to protect its citizens.

The key to a free and plural public debate is data transparency and global digital governance.

Freedom of expression should not be confused with permission to incite violence, spread hatred, commit crimes, or attack the Democratic State of Law.

We recognize the urgency of fighting against all forms of inequality.

There is no justice in a system that expands benefits for big capital while cutting social rights.

The average global salary of a multinational company president is 56 times higher than that of a worker.

Austerity policies force the developing world to live with the intolerable: 733 million people go hungry every day.

The Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, launched last year by the Brazilian presidency of the G20, aims to definitively overcome this scourge.

Tax justice is another step toward putting the economy back at the service of the people.

The super-rich need to pay their fair share in this effort.

Only the fight against social, racial, and gender inequalities can restore the cohesion and legitimacy of democracies.

The environmental crisis introduces new forms of exclusion, with disproportionate impacts on the most vulnerable sectors.

Without a new development model, democracy will remain threatened by those who place their economic interests above those of society and the nation.

This meeting was also a moment for reflection on the state of regional integration and the world.

Latin America and the Caribbean are a positive force in promoting peace, dialogue, and strengthening multilateralism.

With Spain and Europe, we share a long history as well as economic and social ties.

We are two indispensable regions in the emerging multipolar order.

We face similar challenges in addressing racial discrimination, xenophobia, and climate change.

We are also united by the promotion and protection of human rights.

At this moment when extremism seeks to revive interventionist practices, we need to act together.

The defense of democracy is not the responsibility of governments alone.

It requires active participation from academia, parliaments, civil society, the media, and the private sector.

Soon, we will take part in a dialogue to bring our Initiative closer to social movements, NGOs, labor unions, academia, and students.

This journey will continue in September, with another event in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, involving more countries from Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Thank you very much.