New York mayor Zohran Mamdani recited a poem by Federico Garcia Lorca as he welcomed Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez to his official residence on Wednesday.
The two progressive leaders met at Gracie Mansion during Sanchez’s visit to New York for the UN General Assembly.
Mamdani opened the event by reciting Cancion del jinete – or Song of the Horseman – by the Granada-born poet.
‘Garcia Lorca never hid his convictions,’ Mamdani said. ‘He believed deeply in the possibility of a better world.
‘Today, nine decades later, those of us in this room have the power to make that vision a reality.’
He went on to hail Sanchez as a ‘defender of the working class’, claiming his government had ‘restored faith in democracy around the world’.
He highlighted the increase in Spain’s minimum wage since Sanchez entered office, saying it had risen from €735 to €1,221 per month.
‘This sends a very clear and powerful message to millions of people: your work matters, your effort matters and your dignity matters,’ he said.
Mamdani also praised the Spanish government’s expansion of parental leave, its ban on conversion therapy and its recognition of victims of the Franco dictatorship.
The meeting was attended by Barbados prime minister Mia Mottley and European Council president Antonio Costa.
It formed part of an event focused on building ‘an economy for the majority’ and strengthening cooperation between progressive political leaders.
Sanchez is in New York for the UN’s annual high-level week, during which world leaders are addressing conflicts, migration, artificial intelligence and growing geopolitical instability.
