current Colombian situation: "In Colombia we have a military confrontation that has been going on for decades, having as its players the [Colombian] State, as well as the paramilitary and insurgent forces. The Foro is interested in achieving peace and in having a negotiated process towards reaching this goal". In the 16th meeting, which opened on 20 August 2009 in Mexico City, the Foro was expected to concentrate discussion on the 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis as well as engaging in efforts to the restoration of the deposed Honduran president Manuel Zelaya. The Vice president of the Mexican Senate, Yeidckol Polevnsky, has invited the Honduran MP Silvia Ayala, as a member of the Democratic Unification Party and leader of the manifestations in support of Zelaya held in San Pedro Sula, to attend the meeting – something that attracted the fury of the pro-government Honduran press. The ongoing meeting in Mexico will also be the first to organize a parallel youth meeting, where member parties will discuss the impact of the global economic crisis on Latin American youth and the responses that could be offered to it. In January 2010, the European Left – the broad front of European national Left parties formed in view of a common stand in European politics – at the opening of its Third Congress, expressed its interest in strengthening ties with the FSP. In September 2021, the Democratic Socialists of America applied for membership. Participants In government The following countries are currently being governed by leaders and member parties of the Foro de São Paulo: – Alberto Fernández (Justicialist Party/Frente de Todos) (2019–present) – Luis Arce (Movement for Socialism) (2020–present) – Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers' Party/Brazil of Hope) (2023–present) – Gabriel Boric (Apruebo Dignidad) (2022–present) - Gustavo Petro (Historic Pact for Colombia) (2022–present) – Miguel Díaz-Canel (Communist Party of Cuba) (2018–present) – Luis Abinader (Modern Revolutionary Party) (2020–present) – Xiomara Castro (Liberty and Refoundation) (2022–present) – Andrés Manuel López Obrador (National Regeneration Movement) (2018–present) – Daniel Ortega (Sandinista National Liberation Front) (2007–present) – Laurentino Cortizo (Democratic Revolutionary Party) (2019–present) – Philip J. Pierre (Saint Lucia Labour Party) (2021–present) – Nicolás Maduro (United Socialist Party of Venezuela) (2013–present) Aligned governments The following centre-left and left-wing parties or coalitions, who are currently in government, even though not members of the forum, maintain good relations and have been integrated with the members of the FSP: – Unity