Latin American left seeking itself amid the wear of the right due to the Trump-Milei-Kast effect
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, by convening a conference of democratic left-wing leaders in Barcelona, breathed new life into that trend in Ibero-America. Can Trump's wars give progressivism the perfect moment to get back on track?
TL;DR
- The democratic left experienced an "annus horribilis" in 2025, losing elections to the extreme right.
- Global actions by Donald Trump, such as military interventions, have led to increased oil prices, negatively impacting economies of allied nations and potentially hurting the popularity of right-wing leaders.
- Figures like Javier Milei in Argentina and José Antonio Kast in Chile are seeing declining approval ratings.
- The progressive summit in Barcelona, attended by leaders like Pedro Sánchez, Claudia Scheinbaum, Lula Da Silva, and Gustavo Petro, aimed to rearticulate the left's proposals in favor of democracy and against authoritarianism.
- Discussions at the summit highlighted the need to actively protect democracy and address issues like the role of digital platforms in populism and polarization.
- Upcoming elections in Colombia and Brazil are crucial for the progressive movement in Latin America.
- Analysts suggest that the left needs to adopt a more proactive stance, communicate effectively, and focus on social policies that reduce inequality to regain public support.
- The article questions whether the left should compromise its principles or change its approach and attitude in defending them to achieve electoral success.