The "Global progressive mobilisation" of Barcelona, scheduled for this Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18, will launch a global message of "no to war" and aims to project Spain as an international benchmark for progress. The meeting will bring together some 3,000 registered participants, will feature the presence of at least eight heads of Government and will have President Pedro Sánchez as host.
With a marked international profile, the forum is born with a vocation for continuity, as the first step in a series of meetings aimed at keeping the mobilization of the progressive space alive and at reclaiming unity against the "ultraright international," avoiding falling into resignation.
Sources from the organization emphasize that the "Global progressive mobilisation" is not held in Barcelona against the president of the United States, Donald Trump, but rather aims to offer an alternative vision on how to advance and respond to the challenges of the present and the future from progressive positions.
The summit also aims to consolidate itself as a key event for 21st-century social democracy, joining efforts to continue promoting policies they consider essential, with a special focus on democracy, feminism, green transition, migrations, cooperation, and industry. The event will take place at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona and will feature the prominent participation of the mayor of the Catalan capital, Jaume Collboni, and the president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa.
The meeting was promoted by Pedro Sánchez in his capacity as president of the Socialist International, together with the leader of the Party of European Socialists (PES), Stefan Löfven. The Progressive Alliance joined the initiative and received the backing of international figures such as the president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
According to the same sources, the number of registered participants stands at around 3,000, although the number of confirmed attendees is expected to increase throughout the week. During Friday and Saturday, more than one hundred activities will be held, including panels, "workshops", bilateral meetings, and working dinners. On Saturday, the plenary session will take place, where the conclusions will be gathered, and which will be closed by Pedro Sánchez and Lula da Silva. The participation of more than 100 parties from the five continents is expected, as well as national and international trade union leaders, social activists, and specialists from the academic field.
Mamdani and Sheinbaum, among the participants
The "Global Progressive Mobilisation" has already confirmed the attendance of eight heads of Government. Gustavo Petro (Colombia), Yamandú Orsi (Uruguay), Inga Ruginiené (Lithuania), Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), Mia Amor (Barbados) and Claudia Sheinbaum (Mexico) will join Pedro Sánchez and Lula da Silva. The president of the European Council, the Portuguese António Costa, will also attend, in addition to a good part of the ministers of Sánchez's Government.
Municipalism will have a relevant role, with the presence of up to forty councilors from different countries, and the mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, will express his support through a video. The participation of former Chilean president Gabriel Boric is also expected, pending authorization from his country's Congress of Deputies to be able to travel, as established by its Constitution, along with other international progressive leaders in opposition, especially in Israel. The former prime minister of Palestine, Mohammad Shtayyeh, has also confirmed his attendance.
The consulted sources specify that at the event in Barcelona there will be representation from the Venezuelan opposition, some of whose leaders are historical figures of the Socialist International. Her presence will coincide in time with the visit to Madrid of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who will be received by the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, and by the leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, has indicated that he would also see no inconvenience in meeting with her if she requested it.
On those same dates, and already in a more institutional key, Barcelona will host on Friday the I Spain-Brazil Summit, which will be held in the Palau de Pedralbes under the presidency of the Spanish and Brazilian leaders. On Saturday, the IV Meeting in Defense of Democracy, promoted by Boric, will also take place.