MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Friday, May 15th 2026 - 13:27 UTC
Bachelet linked the regional democratic erosion to the “profound disconnect between institutions and people”
Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, currently a candidate for the United Nations Secretary General, defended on Thursday in Montevideo the need for “a more representative, inclusive, and people-centered multilateralism” in the face of advancing “authoritarian projects” in the international order, during the keynote of the seminar “Geopolitics, Multilateralism, and Risks to Gender-Parity Democracy in the New International Order.” The event, organized by IDEA Internacional, is taking place at Uruguay's Legislative Palace as part of the Latin American Women in Politics Meeting, which brings together regional political leaders until Friday.
The former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights described an international scenario that is “increasingly fragmented, polarized, competitive, and marked by profound uncertainty,” shaped by the “resurgence of armed conflicts,” the “disproportionate use of force,” and the “worrying setback in respect for international humanitarian law.” She also warned about the effects of climate change, the risks tied to the accelerated development of artificial intelligence —including deepfakes and the disinformation industry— and the structural challenges that persist in Latin America: inequality, violence, cross-border organized crime, impunity, and the weakening of judicial systems.
