Tegucigalpa, June 27, 2024.- Amidst the current political situation in Latin America and the Caribbean, the advancement of right-wing forces has become a matter of concern for progressive leaders. Therefore, this Thursday, the panel discussion “Rise of the far-right and new right-wing movements” was held as part of the CELAC Social meeting in Honduras. The event featured important personalities and authorities from the region.

Gilberto Ríos, moderator of the panel discussion and representative of the Partido Libre of Honduras, recalled the attempted coup in Bolivia carried out on Wednesday by military forces.

“Military tanks were seen surrounding Plaza Murillo in La Paz, where the Executive and Legislative branches are located, an episode reminiscent of what happened previously with Evo Morales and the chaos and destabilization instigated by extremist factors in Venezuela in recent years.”

In this regard, Jorge Arreaza, Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), emphasized the urgent need for unity to counteract the expansion of neoliberal policies by satellite governments of the United States, such as Javier Milei’s administration in Argentina.

Arreaza pointed out the importance of cooperation among countries in the region, highlighting that division only benefits conservative forces.

In his speech, he called on progressive and revolutionary leaders to unite under a common stand. “We have to stand to the south and to the left”, he stressed.

“We cannot allow internal differences to divide us and hand over our resources to imperialism”, he warned.

The Executive Secretary also referred to the crucial role played by social movements and citizens in this context. He emphasized that unity must be strengthened from the people’s grassroots, referencing historical movements and emblematic figures such as Bolívar, San Martín, and Fidel Castro, who advocated for regional integration.

“The project goes beyond individual differences and the day will come when all countries in the region are truly progressive,” Arreaza affirmed.

He reiterated that, without a doubt, China, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and countries in Africa are making progress in their own revolutions, aligning them into a single block, the global south.

“The BRICS are a fundamental alternative to this historical moment; they want to de-dollarize the economy, seek balance in a multipolar world. Hopefully one day Venezuela, Mexico, or Peron Argentina will join the BRICS.”