On Wednesday (6), during a meeting with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva underlined the cooperation between the two countries to tackle the far right. He also reinforced Brazil’s stance on the creation of a Palestinian state, which was also defended by Sanchez.
“Spain and Brazil are two great democracies facing extremism, political denialism and hate speech fed by fake news. Our experience combating the far right that acts internationally coordinated teaches us that we need to unite all the democrats in the world,” said Lula in his statement to the press.
Starting his 2024 international agenda at the end of February with his participation in the summits of the African Union, the Community of the Caribbean Countries (Caricom) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Brazilian president highlighted "the great convergence in the Global South around the need to reform international organizations," and cited the painting Guernica by the Spanish painter Pablo Picasso to criticize the "paralysis" of the UN Security Council.
“The painting Guernica, by Pablo Picasso, summarizes the indignation at the horror and destruction caused by all wars and conflicts. It should serve as an inspiration for the international community. The paralysis of the UN Security Council in the face of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza is undisputable evidence of the need for urgent reforms in the global governance system to make it more representative, legitimate and efficient,” said Lula.
He also defended the need to “immediately” advance in the creation of a Palestinian state and “recognize it as a full member of the UN, an economically viable state that can live in peace with Israel.” Just like Brazil, Spain has also been adopting a harsher tone to refer to the massacre carried out by Israel against the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip, in addition to publicly advocating for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“We have always demanded coherence regarding international law. We have also defended Russia’s departure from a free and sovereign country [Ukraine] since the beginning [of the war].”
“After 30,000 deaths and the devastation in the Gaza Strip that will require decades to return to [previous] levels of economic growth and well-being - levels that were already very low – we have doubts whether Israel is complying with humanitarian international law,” said Sanchez.
The Spanish PM also highlighted the country’s stance on the creation of a Palestinian state as one of the necessary measures to reach a peace deal in the region. “[A peace deal] undoubtedly involves the international community recognizing the two states [solution], the Arab world recognizing Israel and the Western world recognizing a reality that exists, which is the Palestinian state."
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Regulating labor rights of app workers
Lula mentioned the cooperation between the two countries in drafting measures to protect workers. He added that the experience of the European country inspired the bill that regulates app workers’ activities in Brazil. On Monday (4), the text was sent to the National Congress.
“The competitiveness we seek cannot be an outcome of reducing families’ incomes, decreasing formal jobs, restricting workers’ liberties or dismantling social policies,” Lula stated.
Mercosur-EU agreement
In his speech, Pedro Sanchez mentioned Brazil’s leadership in advancing the Mercosur-EU agreement. “That’s an initiative that reinforces our commercial and investment ties, in addition to contributing to social, labor and environmental benefits.”
“Latin America and the European Union are natural allies. Brazil and Spain are invited to boost this alliance. That's why I’m determined to continue building on these compromises reached at last year’s European Union - Celac Summit.”
Lula nodded back, regretting that the agreement hadn't been signed when he was president of Mercosur and Sanchez was in charge of the European bloc. He added, “We're still going to sign this agreement.”
“The European Union needs his agreement. Brazil needs this agreement. It isn’t about wanting it or not, liking it or not. We need it from a political, economic and geographical point of view. We have to send a sign to the world that we want to go ahead. That’s why I’m optimistic," the Brazilian president declared.
Edited by: Rodrigo Durão Coelho
