At least 1,200 delegates, including 500 international delegates, from 95 countries attended the inaugural “Congreso Mundial contra el Fascismo, el Neofascismo y Expresiones Similares” (World Congress against Fascism, Neofascism and Similar Expressions) in Caracas, Venezuela on September 10-11. A National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) representative attended the congress.

Among the delegates were the social and political leaders of Venezuela’s 23 states and 3,900 commune councils. There were also mass organizations, social movements, academics and intellectuals, organizers and activists from Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the United States, and Canada. Diplomatic representatives of the governments of Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia, the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Russian Republic also attended.

The congress was held on September 11 in time with the commemoration of the death anniversary of Chile’s President Salvador Allende, who was ousted by the US puppet and fascist General Pinochet in 1973. It was also held following the victory of the Venezuelan people and President Nicolas Maduro in the election against US imperialist intervention.

Representatives of the International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS), International Women’s Alliance (IWA) and International Migrants’ Alliance (IMA) from Canada also attended the congress. A Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) delegate was also in attendance.

In a statement, ILPS shared their brilliant experience in Venezuela. “There were no tent cities, no violence in the streets, no lineups for food or panhandlers. On the contrary, we found clean and peaceful streets, high spirits, joyful attitudes, music, and overall enthusiasm among the Venezuelans we met,” the group said.

Updates Philippines, a newspaper of the NDFP, reported that congressional delegates visited “communas” that oversee agricultural production, handicrafts and other production of electronic gadgets. “Venezuela has been pushed to increase local production of consumer goods amid crippling US and EU sanctions,” Updates Philippines reports.

President Maduro’s speech formally closed the congress. He said he hopes that the congress will be the starting point of a global movement against fascism, colonialism and imperialism for peace, democracy and humanity as a whole. The congress agreed to establish the Anti-Fascist International.