Barcelona summit of left-wing leaders aims to counter the advances of populist and nationalist movements.
Progressive leaders from around the world are gathering in Spain on Friday to coordinate a response to the rise of far right and nationalist movements from Europe to the U.S. — with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the center of the push.
More than 3,000 participants from over 100 organizations are convening in Barcelona for the launch of the “Global Progressive Mobilization,” a new initiative aimed at strengthening international cooperation among left-leaning parties and activists.
The experiment is about organizing internationally, Stefan Löfven, president of the European Socialist Party (PES), told POLITICO. “Democracy is increasingly under pressure, and progressives are stepping up globally.”
The two-day event aims to build a counter to advancing authoritarian and far-right forces, from the nationalist right in Europe — including parties aligned with the Patriots for Europe bloc — to global politics in the age of U.S. President Donald Trump.
“This is not an isolated trend,” Löfven said. “It’s a shared challenge that requires a coordinated global response.”
The Barcelona program includes a leaders’ dinner on Friday followed by a day of events featuring Socialist group chief Iratxe García and European Commission Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera as well as Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa and Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum.
The gathering also gives Sánchez — the event’s host — a platform to elevate his international profile as a central figure of a renewed global socialist movement.
“He’s not just acting as a Spanish leader,” said a senior European Parliament official, granted anonymity to speak freely. “He’s trying to exercise European leadership.”
Sánchez could be eyeing a future role in Brussels, potentially challenging European Council President António Costa when the post comes up for mid-term review in 2027, the official said. Costa, who is expected to attend the Barcelona meeting, is widely seen as the favorite to retain the position, but Sánchez’s growing visibility could complicate that outlook.
The Spanish leader’s international ambitions come at a sensitive moment at home. Spain is due to hold elections by 2027, with polls pointing to a fragmented political landscape and a tight race between his Socialist Party and the conservative opposition.
Still, allies see him as a driving force behind the broader progressive push. Sánchez is “the great progressive catalyst of the world,” Vice President of Socialist International and event organizer Hana Jalloul Muro said, pointing to his recent diplomatic activity — including a high-profile trip to China and clashes with Trump-aligned figures — as evidence of his expanding role.