Lula da Silva: Liberal Ideology No Longer Guarantees Democratic Stability

From left to right, Presidents Yamandu Orsi of Uruguay, Gustavo Petro of Colombia, Lula da Silva of Brazil and Gabriel Boric of Chile

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has declared that the traditional model of liberal democracy, centered on periodic elections, fails to address the complex demands of contemporary society and risks instability if not reformed according to a report by Brasil de Fato. His remarks came on Monday, July 21 during the "Democracy Always" summit in Santiago, a gathering of progressive leaders from Latin America and Europe aimed at defending democratic institutions amid rising global authoritarianism and social inequality.

Lula spoke alongside Chilean President Gabriel Boric, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in a high-level event convened at Chile’s Palacio de La Moneda. They discussed strategies to strengthen multilateral cooperation, reduce social disparities, regulate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, and combat misinformation spreading via digital platforms.

“The liberal democracy has proved unable to respond to modern desires and needs,” Lula asserted, emphasizing that merely holding elections every four or five years “is no longer sufficient.” He criticized the loss of credibility in political parties and institutions, warning that without adopting a new developmental model focused on social rights and inclusivity, democracy itself remains vulnerable to those prioritizing narrow interests over collective rights.

In response to what he described as a growing international "anti-democratic offensive," Lula advocated for the regulation of digital networks to curb disinformation and hatred, restoring state capacity to protect citizens from online abuses. His statement underscored the necessity of redefining freedom of expression, clarifying it cannot be used as a license to incite violence or undermine democratic order.

While no leaders mentioned U.S. President Donald Trump by name, the summit’s context was shaped by recent U.S. trade actions, including threatened tariffs against Brazil and other Latin American countries, which Lula criticized as unacceptable economic blackmail. The event took place against a backdrop of continued global political tension, with progressive leaders urging unity to confront extremism and defend democratic governance.

Days prior to the summit, the heads of state co-authored a joint article signaling their commitment to combating authoritarian trends and stress the urgency of reinforcing democratic institutions and civil society participation. They pledged sustained multilateral efforts, including an upcoming session during the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September.

This summit follows a similar 2024 initiative led by Lula and Sánchez, illustrating a growing alliance among progressive governments determined to preserve democratic values in an increasingly polarized world. The leaders affirmed that the antidote to democracy’s challenges lies in making it more participatory, inclusive, and capable of delivering tangible benefits to citizens across generations.

The "Democracy Always" summit represents the progressive bloc’s ongoing response to threats facing democracy worldwide, underscoring the need for adaptive governance models that integrate social justice, environmental stewardship, and technological oversight into the democratic framework.