The response to attacks on democracy is to improve people's lives

Spain was one of the first countries that I had the honor of visiting at the beginning of my third term, as an important stage in Brazil's return to the world.

March 7 will be the opportunity for Brazil to receive a visit from the President of the Government Pedro Sánchez.

Spain is the second main country of origin of foreign direct investments in Brazil.

The volume of investments is around 60 billion dollars (about 54.3 billion euros) and the annual flow has been around 3.3 billion dollars in recent years.

However, it is not with just any economic partner that we share so many cultural and political affinities.

Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards have contributed to forging the Brazilian national identity.

We have essential values ​​in common, such as the defense of democracy and human rights, the promotion of social inclusion policies and the commitment to sustainable development and the fight against the climate crisis.

That is fundamental at a time when we are experiencing profound changes in the international order that challenge our sense of humanity.

In a world that spends $2.2 trillion a year on weapons, peace remains the privilege of some, while wars cause destruction, suffering and the death of innocents.

In a world that produces wealth worth $105 trillion a year, more than 735 million people still have nothing to eat.

In recent decades, an exclusionary economic model has concentrated income and widened disparities.

Inequality has become fertile ground for extremism.

When democracy fails to guarantee the well-being of citizens, figures who sell simplistic solutions to complex problems thrive, sowing distrust in the electoral process and political institutions.

We are facing a worrying increase in the extreme right and its traditional tools of social disintegration: authoritarianism, violence, job insecurity, climate denialism, hate speech, xenophobia, racism and misogyny.

Fortunately, our societies have opted for governments that believe that the key to responding to attacks on democracy is to improve people's lives.

Brazil once again appears among the 10 largest economies in the world.

The Brazilian economy grew 2.9% and unemployment fell to 7.6%, the lowest rate since 2015. We expanded income transfer programs and reestablished the work validation and minimum wage policy.

We approved a tax reform that will finally correct the distortions that have been taxing those who have less more.

We were inspired by Spain for a bill, sent this week to the Brazilian Parliament, that guarantees workers' rights.

We reduced Amazon deforestation by 50% and supported Spain's efforts in the fight against desertification.

We are doing at the national level what we believe needs to be done at the international level.

During the Brazilian presidency of the G-20, we will launch a Global Alliance to Fight Hunger and Poverty, mobilizing resources for the implementation of policies of proven and proven effectiveness.

We will defend the creation of a global tax on billionaires.

We will propose initiatives to guarantee decent work.

We will promote a just transition towards a low-carbon economy, so as to guarantee that COP30, which we will host in the heart of the Amazon, results in effective solutions for the planet.

Rarely in history has support among the world's progressive forces, such as the alliance we maintain with Spain, been as necessary and urgent as now.

It is our responsibility to work together so that indifference does not prevail over humanism and so that the injustices that spread within and between countries give way to solidarity and cooperation.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

is president of Brazil.

Translation by

Laura Vásquez.

Review by

Enrique Villamil.

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