Brazil's MST calls for strengthened popular organization

Speaking from Shanghai, China, Neuri Rossetto, a leader of Brazil's Landless Workers' Movement (MST), stated that the success of progressive governments in Latin America depends on strengthening political organization and grassroots participation.

Rossetto argued that the State is not a neutral instrument but a structure that reproduces existing power relations, which can limit the transformative capacity of democratically elected governments. He identified several obstacles to governance, including budget constraints and the actions of judicial, military, and police institutions that may oppose popular initiatives.

To counter the rise of the far-right, which he noted has successfully channeled social discontent through hate speech and xenophobia, Rossetto emphasized the need for political education and the preparation of leadership cadres. He also highlighted the tension between short electoral cycles and the long-term timelines required for structural social transformation.