Pedro Sánchez and Zohran Mamdani join forces in New York: "The powerful are afraid of us"

MadridPedro Sánchez and Zohran Mamdani. Two names from the left, with international projection, who joined forces this Wednesday in New York to stage an alliance in favor of progressive policies on a global scale. "The powerful fear us," the Spanish president made clear, having been invited by the Mayor of New York to a breakfast briefing, taking advantage of his stay in the American city during the United Nations General Assembly. "Spain is demonstrating that another economic model is possible and New York, that this ambition can transform our cities. That is why the powerful fear us, because we demonstrate that there is another possible path that works and generates results for common people," recounted Sánchez, in a speech reported by Efe.

Under the title Building an economy for the majority, Sánchez argued that his policies contribute to reducing inequality, despite criticism from the opposition regarding the loss of purchasing power of Spaniards in recent years. The Spanish president remarked that Spain is one of the fastest-growing economies in the European Union, with the lowest unemployment rate in recent decades and with measures such as the establishment of a minimum living income. He also cited the suspension of evictions, despite the fact that the decree-law is no longer in force – it was overturned by the PP, Vox, and Junts – and this Wednesday an 87-year-old woman was evicted from the house where she had lived all her life, after an investment fund bought it and imposed a rent of 1,650 euros. Events that have led the minority partner of the Spanish executive, Sumar, to already demand a new housing decree to suspend evictions.

For his part, Mamdani had nothing but praise for Sánchez. He referred to him as a "defender of the working class" and highlighted as examples the increase in the minimum wage from 735 to 1,221 euros during his term, as well as the expansion of paternity and maternity leave. "It sends a very clear and forceful message to millions of people: their work matters, their effort matters, and dignity matters."

The Spain-United States link

Although with the Ceuta crisis the opposition is questioning Sánchez's migration policies, the Spanish president has once again defended his government's position. He gave a speech praising the migratory phenomenon. "Immigrants work in our companies, contribute to our public finances, sustain our welfare state and enrich our communities. Immigration makes us a better country," he declared. And at this point, he made a global criticism of the right, on both sides of the Atlantic, for pointing to immigrants as the culprits of all ills: "It is one of the oldest political tricks in history: making people look to the sides so they don't look up". In this way, Sánchez has exhibited his most rebellious version regarding the great powers, a strategy that the Moncloa wants to exploit in the final stretch of the legislature.

Following the meeting with Mamdani, in which the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, also participated, Sánchez spoke at an economic colloquium jointly organized by the Spanish and United States chambers of commerce. The event, by the mere fact of being organized with the Americans, was already of interest due to the turbulent relations between Sánchez and Trump. Without going any further, the Spanish president snubbed him this Tuesday at the initial reception held by Donald Trump following the start of the UN General Assembly in New York.

In this context, the PSOE leader said that the bond between Spain and the United States is "more solid than the steel that holds up the Brooklyn Bridge," even though there are currently differences between the respective governments. In fact, Sánchez, in an interview with Jon Stewart's weekly show, one of the most influential in the United States, criticized Trump's speech at the UN for being an "ideological" speech without being "based on facts" or having the support of many countries.