Open Society Foundations Chair Alexander Soros praised New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani after attending an economic-policy breakfast with the leaders of Spain and Barbados and European Council President António Costa during U.N. General Assembly week.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
Alexander Soros, chair of the Open Society Foundations and son of billionaire George Soros, praised New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani after joining an international gathering at Gracie Mansion that brought together progressive political figures during United Nations General Assembly week.
Soros said he was “honored” to attend Mamdani’s “Building an Economy for the Many” breakfast and praised the city in a post on X.
“It’s been so inspiring to see the greatest city in the world showcase its values, strengths, and ideals,” Soros wrote. “So proud of NYC!”
The Wednesday gathering at the mayor’s official residence featured Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and European Council President António Costa, a former socialist prime minister of Portugal. Reuters and the New York City mayor’s office confirmed the three leaders joined Mamdani for the economic-policy breakfast.
The event was supported by the Global Progress Foundation, according to the mayor’s office. Patrick Gaspard, a former president of the Open Society Foundations, served as moderator. A NewsCord report citing La Vanguardia also described the foundation, chaired by Sánchez, as a supporter of the gathering.
The breakfast centered on economic policies intended to raise wages, improve affordability and strengthen social programs, while participants also discussed cooperation among progressive political movements internationally.
Sánchez pointed to his government’s economic agenda in Spain and framed the policies embraced by those attending as an alternative to their political opponents.
“That is why the powerful fear us,” the Spanish premier said, according to The Washington Post. “Because day after day, we show that a different path is possible, and it works.”
The Washington Post reported that the event was part of a broader effort by left-leaning political figures in the United States and Europe to strengthen international relationships as they confront the growth of right-wing populist movements.
Mamdani used his remarks to highlight Sánchez’s record in Spain, particularly the country’s minimum wage.
The mayor said Spain’s minimum wage had risen 61% over eight years, from €735 per month when Sánchez took office to €1,221. Mamdani described Sánchez and Mottley as champions of working people and argued that the political figures gathered at Gracie Mansion had an opportunity to extend their movement beyond national boundaries.
“We can carry our movement for equality and justice to further horizons than we ever thought possible,” Mamdani said.
Mamdani also said the gathering provided an opportunity for political leaders to learn from one another and replicate policies they considered successful in their respective countries.
Costa, who previously served as mayor of Lisbon before becoming prime minister of Portugal and later president of the European Council, focused part of his remarks on the reach local governments can have in addressing everyday concerns.
“You have the best job that a politician can do,” Costa told Mamdani, according to an Associated Press report.
Costa said he missed the ability mayors sometimes have to identify a problem in the morning and resolve it by the end of the day. In his broader remarks, he argued that political leaders should concentrate on affordability, housing, transportation, education and healthcare.
Mamdani and Sánchez have also taken similar positions on several international issues.
La Vanguardia reported that both have characterized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as “genocide” and have opposed pressure from the Trump administration for European governments to substantially increase military spending.
The Gracie Mansion event occurred during an unusually busy diplomatic week for Mamdani as foreign leaders converged on New York for the U.N. General Assembly.
Just days earlier, President Donald Trump visited the same residence for an hourlong meeting with Mamdani. Despite substantial political differences, the two discussed issues affecting New York, including housing and affordability, and appeared together afterward.
Mamdani has also made clear that he sees his Democratic Socialist politics as potentially extending beyond New York.
Asked by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour whether his approach could succeed nationally, Mamdani said it would “absolutely translate on a national level,” arguing that problems involving housing, childcare and other living expenses confronting New Yorkers are also faced by working-class Americans elsewhere in the country.
Soros’ attendance placed the Open Society Foundations chairman among the political and international figures participating in Mamdani’s U.N.-week outreach, with his public reaction emphasizing support for both the mayor and the direction represented at the Gracie Mansion gathering.
Comments