Spain's Sánchez builds anti-Trump coalition looking for political lifeline at home

By&nbspMaria Tadeo from Barcelona

Published connected 18/04/2026 - 21:46 GMT+2•Updated 21:55

Pedro Sánchez rallied planetary leaders successful Barcelona this play astatine a two-day normal billed arsenic the “progressive CPAC”, arsenic the Spanish Prime Minister tries to pb an anti-Trump question overseas portion grappling with ineligible challenges astatine home.

The Spanish person warned of an planetary “reactionary wave” fuelling hatred speech, sexism, warfare and division, without explicitly naming US President Donald Trump.

"It doesn't substance however overmuch they scream, oregon however galore lies they spread," Sánchez said successful a code connected Saturday. "The clip for the reactionary, ultra-right has travel to an end."

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva echoed the remarks, criticising those “who telephone themselves patriots but enactment their sovereignty up for merchantability and telephone for sanctions”.

Chants of “No to war” could beryllium heard astatine the Fira auditorium successful Barcelona.

The impermanent database included South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. All 3 person clashed with US President Donald Trump implicit tariffs and migration, portion South Africa has besides faced allegations of “anti-white” racism — claims echoed by tech billionaire Elon Musk.

A European delegation included German Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Italy’s absorption person Elly Schlein, and Belgian person Paul Magnette. Tax-the-rich economist Gabriel Zucman was besides successful attendance.

European Council President António Costa cancelled astatine the past minute, citing idiosyncratic reasons, and skipped a gathering possibly considered excessively governmental for his role.

Mexico's Sheinbaum participated successful an lawsuit astir protecting democracies but did not articulation the much governmental rally connected Saturday. A US-Mexico-Canada commercialized statement is nether reappraisal by the Trump medication and delicate talks astir presumption are ongoing.

Progressive CPAC to antagonistic planetary MAGA

Sánchez said the Barcelona league — unofficially billed arsenic a left-wing reply to the blimpish gathering CPAC — would service to unite “progressive forces” nether a azygous banner. A root progressive successful the preparations told Euronews that Brazil had asked Spain to determination the lawsuit earlier to spring, with April yet chosen arsenic the date.

While nary of the leaders mentioned US President Donald Trump by name, references to the American person surfaced repeatedly, alongside disapproval of his policies. From tariffs to the warfare successful Iran, officials called for a progressive effect to "a reactionary wave."

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who ran alongside Hillary Clinton successful her failed statesmanlike bid against Donald Trump, addressed a ample assemblage connected Saturday during the inaugural Global Progressive Mobilisation, describing Trump arsenic “trigger-happy” with nary existent plan.

Walz denounced a seemingly authoritative drift nether the Trump, suggesting "we request to telephone that what it is. That's fascism. Or astatine slightest it's fascist funny arsenic they would be."

Brazil's president Lula joined successful the disapproval of the warfare successful Iran, and greeted Spain's determination to contradict entree to US forces to usage Spanish subject bases to onslaught Iran.

"I privation to salute friend, Pedro Sánchez, for having the courageousness (to accidental no)," Lula added.

A hard week for Sánchez astatine home

By often taking an autarkic stance - from Gaza to the warfare successful Iran - the Spanish premier curate has captured a planetary audience, starring a bloc of left-wing leaders.

Euronews first reported astir plans to organise a normal for socialist parties and the planetary near successful March.

Euronews besides reported that Sánchez sought to capitalise connected nationalist discontent implicit the warfare successful Iran and the unpopularity of Trump to boost his planetary profile.

His stance has earned him applause, but besides disapproval from the White House.

Trump has repeatedly said helium “wants thing to bash with Spain” and has criticised Sánchez arsenic a atrocious person who is “not paying” his just stock for NATO protection. He besides threatened to enforce a afloat commercialized blockade, though nary measures person been announced.

The normal wraps a hard week for the Spanish premier curate aft his wife, Begoña Gómez, was charged with corruption and is acceptable to look proceedings pursuing a two-year investigation. The mates person denied immoderate wrongdoing.

Sources adjacent to Sánchez speaking to Euronews picture the lawsuit arsenic politically motivated and expect Gómez to beryllium acquitted.