With the return of Donald Trump to the Presidency of the United States, right-wing world leaders are preparing to celebrate his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The event promises to be a historic fraternization between different figures, who have been the protagonists of a growing wave of the global right.
United in opposition to the left and so-called globalism, these heads of state – current, imminent or recently left power – share a similar vision of the world, but differ in priorities, strategies and styles. Their trajectories, shaped by geopolitical contexts and varied realities, reflect a movement that is cohesive in rhetoric and heterogeneous in content.
While strengthening the international network of mutual support and influence, these characters, almost always labeled by the press as “extremists”, play roles in the changing scenario. Trump heads the group that includes Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil), Javier Milei (Argentina), Giorgia Meloni (Italy), Nayib Bukele (El Salvador), Viktor Orbán (Hungary), among others.
These leaders called Trump’s victory historic and of global impact. Milei, the first of them to meet with the Republican after his election, was treated as “my favorite president”. The Argentine president even announced his desire to negotiate a free trade agreement with the USA. Jair Bolsonaro and close allies saw, in turn, the chance that the relationship built with the republican would influence his domestic political project.
Each one, in their own way, is betting on the continuity and consolidation of the right-wing agenda, defending traditional values that are resistant to progressive agendas. According to experts consulted by People’s Gazettealthough there are differences between them, they all believe they are connected to the same expectations and deep-rooted beliefs of their voters.
Right-wing leaders around the world
Donald Trump (United States) – After winning the 2024 presidential elections, Donald Trump will return to the White House, establishing great influence in American and global politics. His victory was celebrated by right-wing leaders around the world, including former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL).
Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil) – The former Brazilian president, despite being ineligible until 2030 and being the target of three indictments, maintains a significant base of support. He has expressed in public the hope of strengthening his group with Trump’s return to power, in addition to the rise of the right in Europe and Latin America.
Javier Milei (Argentina) – Libertarian economist, Javier Milei was elected president of Argentina at the end of 2023 in the midst of the serious economic crisis. It has pursued a bold agenda of austerity and privatization while approaching right-wing world leaders.
Giorgia Meloni (Italy) – Giorgia Meloni, Italian Prime Minister and leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy party, has strengthened her position in European politics. She has focused her speech on defending the family, especially motherhood. Now, it seeks a strategic alliance with the United States.
Viktor Orbán (Hungary) – Hungarian Prime Minister since 2010, Orbán is known for his nationalist and conservative stance, including strict measures against immigration and controversial judicial reforms. He has influenced right-wing movements across Europe.
Marine Le Pen (French) – Leader of Reunião Nacional, she is one of the main names on the right in Europe. After losing the 2022 Presidency, he maintained his support base, focusing on immigration, security and criticism of the European Union. This year his party came close to forming the majority parliamentary bloc.
Benjamin Netanyahu (Israel) – The Prime Minister of Israel, leader of the Likud party, returned to power in 2022 after a brief absence. A central figure in Israeli politics for decades, he has implemented changes in the judicial system and reinforced hard lines on security and diplomacy issues.
Andrzej Duda (Poland) – The Polish president is an important figure in the group of European conservative leaders. Defender of family values and strictness regarding immigration and national sovereignty, he suffered a political setback in 2023 when he saw the election of a left-wing prime minister.
Nayib Bukele (El Salvador) – Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele remains a controversial figure. Known for tough security policies, active use of social networks and betting on cryptocurrencies, he maintains high approval ratings, despite international criticism.
Experts see points of proximity and divergence between right-wing leaders
For Daniel Afonso da Silva, International Relations researcher at USP, the rise of leaders like Trump, Milei and Bolsonaro reflects popular disenchantment with the ineffectiveness of governments and the impact of globalism, although each case has particularities.
“In the USA, the Trump phenomenon is linked to the reaction against negative aspects of globalization, especially in relation to China. In Argentina, Milei symbolizes discredit in the political class. Bolsonaro, on the other hand, is considered a different case: despite tensions with China, he does not share the same vision of losses caused by globalization and, in Brazil, the migration issue has less weight than in Europe or the USA”, he explains.
Silva highlights Bolsonaro’s similarities with other leaders of the global right on issues such as economic liberalism and the customs agenda, but points out differences. “He represents a deep Brazil, with high popular support, but not always fully aligned with this agenda”, he concludes.
Natalia Fingermann, professor of International Relations at ESPM, highlights that Trump’s victory reinforced the global right’s opposition to multilateral organizations, such as the G20 and the UN.
She also points out the uniqueness of President Nayib Bukele, of El Salvador, who promoted the use of cryptocurrencies as an economic development strategy. Since Trump’s election, Bitcoin has appreciated substantially, driven by investor optimism in the face of American support for the sector and the appointment of Elon Musk to his government. In El Salvador, Bitcoin became common currency in 2021, but Bukele acknowledged that popular adoption was limited, although the financial gains were relevant.
Adriano Gianturco, coordinator of the International Relations course at Ibmec-BH, highlights this wide diversity of positions within the spectrum of the global right. He also indicates two as more dissonant: Bukele, with an innovative monetary policy, and Milei, with a reduction in the State to weaken bureaucrats and prevent political use of the public machine.
Gianturco also quotes Recep Erdogan, from Türkiye, and says that the classic binary division between left and right is not very applicable in contexts outside the West.
Regarding Bolsonaro, the professor questions the depth of his commitment to economic liberalism, although he appointed liberal Paulo Guedes to lead economic policy during his government.
Leaders from Portugal and Spain hope to appear as highlights of the global right
In line to join the group of right-wing highlights in the world, Santiago Abascal, leader of the Spanish party Vox, defends the fight against illegal immigration and the promotion of traditional values. Vox has gained growing support and influenced the political scene, as part of the phenomenon of strengthening conservatives in Europe.
Another candidate is André Ventura, leader of the Portuguese party Chega, founded in 2019. The party obtained 18.1% of the votes in the March elections, taking 50 seats in the Assembly of the Republic, quadrupling the previous representation. Known for his tough stances on immigration, he is hostile to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whom he promised to arrest.
Leftist election in Uruguay clashes with South America
The election of Yamandú Orsi, from the center-left Frente Amplio party, to the Presidency of Uruguay is a counterpoint to the recent global rise of right-wing forces. In November, Orsi won the second round with 49.8% of the votes, surpassing Álvaro Delgado, a representative of the right who achieved 45.9%. His victory marks the return of the left to power in the country, succeeding Luis Lacalle Pou, from the right.
Experts note that, although the right-wing wave predominates in several parts of the world, Latin America maintains different dynamics, reflecting national contexts. Brazil’s municipal election in 2024, for example, emptied the left, strengthened the right and, above all, gave even more space to the center.