The
Madrid Charter: In Defense of Freedom and Democracy in the Iberosphere (
Spanish:
Carta de Madrid: en defensa de la libertad y la democracia en la Iberosfera), also known as the
Letter from Madrid, was a manifesto created on 26 October 2020 by the Disenso Foundation think tank of Vox. The document denounced left-wing organizations in Ibero-America, said these groups pose a threat to
liberal democracy through
communism. With over 8,000 signatories, the charter was also signed by conservative and some ultraconservative, and far-right politicians from the Americas and the Iberian Peninsula. Chilean politician
José Antonio Kast, one of the document's signatories, proposed in October 2021 that the signatories of the Madrid Charter establish an International Anti-Radical Left Coordination, stating that "what is happening in Colombia is no coincidence. The model of the antisocial outbreak is repeated in Chile."
Content In the document, signatories define two entities; the first is an allied Iberosphere of nations holding the same roots to the Iberian Peninsula and the second are left-wing groups, such as the
São Paulo Forum and the Puebla Group, The letter condemns leftist groups as being under the influence of Cuba, stating that they are "under the umbrella of the Cuban regime", describes part of the region as being "kidnapped by
totalitarian communist-inspired regimes, supported by
drug trafficking", and says that leftist groups hold an "ideological agenda" to destabilize liberal governments. The letter cites respect for the
rule of law,
separation of powers, and
private property. PAN politicians received criticism on social media that resulted with conflicts within the party. Due to Vox's controversial visit, discussions occurred of Mexico possibly enforcing Article 33 of the
Constitution of Mexico, which grants the expulsion of foreign individuals for interfering in Mexican political affairs.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the president of Mexico, declined this option by stating that "Mexico is a free country. I also say this so that if the gentleman of Vox, Abascal, wants to come again, he can do it. The doors of our country are open, they are always welcome. All foreigners, even if they are opponents." Peruvian investigative journalism website
OjoPúblico wrote in an article discussing far-right alliances in the Americas that members of Vox travelled to Peru to obtain signatures, with the parties
Go on Country of
Hernando de Soto,
Popular Force of
Keiko Fujimori, and
Popular Renewal of
Rafael López Aliaga signing the document. Peruvian business executives, including the owner of
Willax Televisión, also participated in discussions and signed the charter. Additionally, Vox created an
e-participation initiative in Peru to gather signatures from Peruvian citizens.
Signatories == Meetings ==