Thousands of people demonstrated this Monday (26th) in the streets of Colombia’s main cities against measures proposed by leftwing President Gustavo Petro, such as tax increases for the rich and agricultural reforms.
In Bogotá, protesters mobilized through downtown streets and gathered in Plaza de Bolívar next to the President’s headquarters, shouting “Fora Petro!”.
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“Petro has promised a general policy change, but he has surrounded himself with corrupt politicians. That’s deceptive,” said Orlando Novoa, 60, who owns a construction company that employs about 30 people.
In Medellín, a team from state broadcaster Telemedellín was attacked by protesters and forced to leave reporting, the NGO Foundation for Freedom of the Press criticized.
Gustavo Petro takes over as President of Colombia
First Left President
Petro became Colombia’s first leftwing president when he won over half of the electorate with reform proposals including raising taxes on the wealthy, curbing oil production and enacting agrarian reform to distribute fertile land to the landless.
To put these initiatives into practice, Petro formed a majority legislative coalition with the support of several traditional parties.
Congress is currently debating a governmentproposed tax reform bill that aims to collect more taxes from the upper classes to fund their social programs to combat poverty and inequality.
Petro defenders trade insults with opponents
In the capital, dozens of young people who mobilized in defense of the president exchanged insults and shoves with their opponents, forcing city officials to intervene.
Demonstrations roamed the streets of Medellín, Cali, Bucaramanga and other state capitals.
respect for private property
Petro’s rise to power emboldened aborigines and peasants to forcibly occupy dozens of properties. Petro criticized the invasions, but even so, hundreds of people dressed in white took to the streets of Cali with signs that read “Respect private property” and “Petro encourages crime, not production.”
For 12 years, Petro was a member of the M19, a nationalist guerrilla of urban origin. In 1990, the M19 signed a peace agreement and became a political party.
AntiPetro demonstrators are also complaining about Petro’s past: “It’s a shame to have a guerrilla president. I’m outraged,” said Manuela Hernández, 62, owner of a swimwear company in Bogotá.
protests during past governments
Former President Iván Duque faced large protests led by young people in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
The bloodiest occurred last year when Duque sought to tax the middle class to deal with the ravages of the pandemic, which the UN says sparked violent demonstrations that lasted two months and left 46 dead, including civilians and police officers.