Meeting in Cuba, the Latin American left bets on unity.

247, with Prensa Latina, by Waldo Mendiluza The São Paulo Forum, which meets from July 15 to 17 in Havana, was created in 1990. It brings together more than a hundred progressive forces from the continent and is meeting for the third time on the island (1993 and 2001), in a scenario similar to that which saw its birth almost three decades ago.

Driven by political figures such as the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro (1926-2016), and the former president and founder of the Workers' Party of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the São Paulo Forum emerged to provide a response from the left to challenges such as the fall of the socialist bloc and the consequences of neoliberalism.

After several years of governments committed to change and social responsibility in Latin America, the right has returned to power in several countries, amidst an escalation of aggression from the United States, demonstrating the continued relevance of the Monroe Doctrine and its hegemonic and interventionist project for the region.

Coups d'état, judicial and parliamentary crusades, violent protests disguised as popular demands, and political persecution are all part of the arsenal of the right wing, which is praised by Washington.

Faced with the challenge this implies, delegates to the 24th meeting of the São Paulo Forum evoke the call made by Fidel Castro 25 years ago, when Havana hosted the fourth meeting of the São Paulo Forum.

'What less can we do, and what less can the Latin American left do, than create an awareness in favor of unity? This should be inscribed on the banners of the left. With or without socialism (...)', he stated on that occasion.

Unity, in particular, is the theme that brings together the participants of the annual meeting, which will take place from July 15 to 17 in Havana.

Expectations of the left

In connection with the 24th meeting of the São Paulo Forum, Prensa Latina engaged in dialogue with representatives of revolutionary and progressive thought in the region.

According to Argentine political scientist Atilio Borón, the meeting will take place against a backdrop of intense imperialist counter-offensive, whose primary targets are to bring about regime change in Venezuela, further tighten the blockade against Cuba, and isolate the government of Bolivian President Evo Morales.

Likewise, he argued, imperialism intends to plant an opposition bridgehead in Nicaragua, as well as advance the return of Ecuador to US domination with the re-entry of US troops into the Manta base and the 'release' of Julian Assange from the Quito embassy in London, 'which amounts to his death sentence'.

The São Paulo Forum will also provide a fraternal and frank discussion of the successes and failures of progressive and left-wing governments, to ratify the former and correct the latter, he stressed.

According to Pablo Sepúlveda, international coordinator of the Network of Intellectuals and Artists in Defense of Humanity, strategies should include breaking through the information blockade and proposing an offensive that further fractures the capitalist system and reclaims socialism as a model of peace and justice for all.

Liberating heroes

In an interview with Prensa Latina, the Bolivian ambassador to Cuba, Juan Ramón Quintana, described the São Paulo Forum as a very vigorous deliberative and democratic space that keeps alive the flame of the liberating ideas of the great leaders of Latin American independence.

Quintana recalled key figures in regional emancipation such as the Venezuelan Simón Bolívar and the Cuban José Martí.

* Journalist for the national newsroom of Prensa Latina.