“It is no secret that an advance of neoliberalism and a retreat of democratic social movements and the absence of these in governmental spaces predominate in the region,” Rousseff told an international meeting of the Puebla group, which brings together progressive leaders. from 16 countries in Latin America and Europe.

The forum promotes the debate Democracy and Equality: towards a model of solidarity development, whose objective is to reflect on the challenges of the sub-continent and the world.

For the former president, it is imperative that Latin America join efforts towards greater integration between countries and that they are less dependent on the export of raw materials.

She felt that the potential power of Latin America must be strengthened and centralized, “in whom? “, she replied, “in our regional integration”, she limited.

In another part of his speech, Rousseff warned that sanctions against Russia, embroiled in a conflict with Ukraine, by states and Europe “generate an absolute risk of de-globalisation”.

He clarified that the reality in Ukraine will put an end to the globalization of the past three decades and will have lasting economic consequences for the whole world, as stated by a director of BlackRock Inc, an American company considered to be the largest management company. assets and risks. in the world.

The former presidents of Spain, José Luis Zapatero, and Colombia, Ernesto Samper, also took part in the debate.

According to the organizers, the former Brazilian head of state Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will be responsible for closing tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. local time at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) the work of the meeting with the seminar entitled Equality and the future of Latin America.

The Puebla Group was founded in July 2019 in the Mexican city of the same name during a period of political resistance, coups and dismantling of the regional union effort.

According to the Rector of the UERJ, Ricardo Lodi, the need to invest massively in education, health, science and technology to guarantee a better quality of life for the Latin American population will be highlighted during the two days in the round tables.

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