Protests Greet Madrid Forum in Chile: Kast and Milei Lead Far-Right Summit in Santiago

Original article: Protestas reciben al Foro de Madrid en Chile: Kast y Milei encabezan cumbre de ultraderecha en Santiago

Student, women’s, labor, political, and social organizations have called for protests in Santiago and Valparaíso in opposition to the start of the Madrid Forum, an assembly bringing together leading figures of the international far-right, with Chilean President José Antonio Kast and Argentina’s Javier Milei as central figures.

The alliance of right and far-right political parties and leaders, primarily from Spain and Latin America, was established in 2020 by the Fundación Disenso, a think tank linked to the far-right Spanish party Vox, which primarily uses it as a political platform internationally.

Social movements have raised alarms that hosting this summit in our country represents an attempt to impose authoritarian narratives in the region.

On the eve of the event, set to occur this Thursday and Friday in Santiago, a significant number of progressive parties and human rights groups gathered on Wednesday in front of the La Moneda Palace to express their condemnation of the event.

Simultaneously, the metropolitan leaderships of opposition parties issued a public statement in Paseo Bulnes to reject the international summit convening representatives and organizations from the far-right.

Participation in this activity included the regional leaders of the Frente Amplio, Communist Party, Socialist Party, Party for Democracy, Christian Democracy, and Liberal Party, along with councilors from the communes in the Metropolitan Region, regional councilors, and representatives from social, labor, student and human rights organizations, such as the Association of Families of Political Executions (AFEP), the Central Unitary Workers’ Union (CUT), and the National Coordinator of Student Centers (RENACE).

The rejection is not only directed at the policies promoted by far-right political actors but also at the attempt to instill in public opinion denialist narratives that undermine the historical memory of the country.

“I deeply condemn the holding of the Madrid Forum in Chile. Those who come to promote hate, authoritarianism, and denialism are unwelcome in a land that knows the pain and the cost of losing democracy,” asserted Esteban Navarro, the regional political secretary of the Communist Party of Chile (PC).

In statements recorded by El Siglo, the leader reminded that «memory, truth, and justice are fundamental and non-negotiable pillars for our people,» assuring that the PC will continue «defending popular organization, the rights of workers, and the unity of all democratic forces.»

“Against the far-right: more unity, more organization, and more struggle”, Navarro urged.

Alongside Milei and Kast, the Madrid Forum will feature officials and politicians from the far-right, including U.S. Deputy Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers; President of The Heritage Foundation Kevin Roberts; and Hungarian MEP Kinga Gál, known for her ties to former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. It also includes representatives from the Spanish party Vox, completing a list that, for social movements, represents a coordinated threat against progressivism, democracy, and social rights.