Call for 1st International Antifascist Conference

[Editor’s note: An leader of the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) will be speaking at Ecosocialism 2025, September 5-7, Naarm/Melbourne, Australia. For more information on the conference visit ecosocialism.org.au.]

First published on conference website.

We are in the midst of an intense struggle over the direction of society. The Brazilian people endured the tragedy of the Bolsonaro government, drawing lessons about the genocidal and authoritarian nature of its project. Through intense social and political mobilization, we were able to defeat it at the ballot box. However, Bolsonarism still maintains a significant presence in society and within institutional spheres. This, however, is not a uniquely Brazilian problem — it affects the rights of the working classes across the world, especially in the so-called “Western world.” The far right governs or stands as the main political alternative in much of Europe. They govern the planet’s largest military power. They govern or pressure governments that claim to be democratic and popular, as well as liberal governments of all types.

Brazilian organizations operating in the southern region of the country had convened the 1st International Antifascist Conference, initially planned for May 2024. However, at that time, the state of Rio Grande do Sul experienced the worst flood in its history — a direct consequence of climate change that affected millions of people. At the time, hundreds of people representing causes and struggles from 31 countries across 6 continents had responded to the call. Given the gravity of the situation, it was a difficult but absolutely necessary decision to cancel the event, so that all efforts could be directed toward rebuilding the devastated cities. Now, the time has come to resume the call for the Conference, maintaining the same principles that guided the original invitation.

The rise of the far right, alongside the emergence of openly fascist organizations, coincides with the first assessments of the traumatic experiences represented by the genocidal governments of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil and Donald Trump in the United States. In addition, the genocide in Gaza persists — denied by the imperialist nations, but condemned unanimously by the so-called “Global South” and by organizations awaiting the outcome of the case brought before the International Criminal Court. In neighboring Argentina, Javier Milei is waging a war against the working class, the popular sectors, and the youth, working to dismantle historic social and democratic rights. In Porto Alegre, a city with deep democratic traditions and aspirations, we seek to build a space of unity between forces with social presence and political relevance — both electorally and in broader ideological and political terms —, prioritizing the fight against the far right on multiple fronts, based on political unity while respecting differences.

The analysis of these historical experiences reveals the resilience of democratic and progressive forces. However, the scale and coordination of fascist and far-right forces continue to grow, resonating with sectors invested in deepening the most recent dynamics of capitalism, particularly those driven by the interests of global financial capital. This is directly connected to the international coordination of neofascist and far-right movements, which are organizing to compete on a global scale for their project.

Led by the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), the Workers’ Party (PT), and the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, we call on international antifascist forces to open a dialogue capable of confronting the destruction being carried out by ultraliberal conservatism — placing unity in the streets against the far right as our top priority. Porto Alegre was the epicenter of popular resistance that defeated a coup d’état in 1961. At the beginning of this century, it hosted the World Social Forum, gathering diverse expressions of the left and social movements. Hundreds of thousands took part in this collective process to build another possible world.

Beyond differing perspectives on that experience, we now seek to take a step forward — a necessary one. The mobilizations and mass social struggles against the far right are the other side of today’s international reality. Hundreds of thousands are taking to the streets in Germany against the neo-Nazi party; across five continents against the genocide of the Palestinian people; and in Argentina, in massive resistance by workers and popular sectors against the Milei government. The first general strike of the year, in January, sparked a massive national mobilization that went far beyond the trade unions that organized it. Workers, neighborhoods, assemblies, cultural groups, independent media, youth, and the broader left joined together in a true united front to defeat Javier Milei.

It is in the spirit of these struggles that we aim to coordinate and come together from March 26 to 29, 2026, in Porto Alegre, to organize and debate how to build a movement — both in the streets and across multiple spaces — capable of confronting far-right and fascist expressions. We aim to open the way for solidarity among struggling peoples and for the defense of social and economic rights, democratic freedoms, the environment, science, and the arts – and against all forms of exploitation, xenophobia, and oppression.

We call on all organizations, individuals, movements and political actors who wish to take part to join us in this political space and initiative by endorsing this call.

Antifascist greetings,

PSOL, PT, PCdoB