This is how the opposition took to the streets in a new fight with the Petro government

The self-proclaimed “March of the Majority”, led by citizens belonging to the opposition and supported by sectors of the Colombian right, managed to gather more than 52 thousand people on the streets of the country this March 6 (police record). It was a political battle that demoralized the opposition Popular support against the government of President Gustavo PetroAccording to Invemar, that has recently reached only 35% approval.

The march is also part of a strategy by the opposition against reforms that are being discussed in Congress and which critics consider “inconvenient”. This strategy includes parallel work on Capitol Hillas a maneuver to break quorum In each session in which government projects are going to be debated.

A large forum in the Plaza de Bolivar in Bogotá, which brought together many celebrities, including the Democratic Center, Cambio Radical, representatives Miguel Polo Polo, Diego Santos, lawyer Jaime Arrizabaleta and even more. twenty veterans of public forceProtestors were welcomed around noon, especially those dressed in white and coming from the national park.

From that point on, the Uribe senator, Paloma Valencia, told the audience People are waiting to see how Congressmen are going to vote. And we must do everything possible to prevent reforms from moving forward. This is absolutely logical.” Senators also joined that group on the plow Hernandez, who is becoming closer to the opposition. In fact, some have called for him to be expelled from the Green Alliance Party. The congressman said, “If my principles deserve expulsion from my party, they can do so.”

This Wednesday about 15 thousand people gathered in the Plaza de Bolivar, about 7 thousand more than those who demonstrated in front of the Prosecutor’s Office and the Supreme Court bunker in early February, when they were summoned by the government. For this reason, senators of the Democratic Center, miguel uribe turbeOne of the main promoters of the march, assured that they were “successful”.

Nevertheless, and in keeping with the pace of the political pulse, President Petrou affirmed that the marchers “do not want change in the country (…) There will always be forces that do not want to lose privilege“But the volcanic forces of society want the transformation of Colombia.” Those were the words of the Head of State of the House of Nariño, within the framework of the occupation alexander lopez As the new Director of National Planning and following a number of ministerial cabinet changes in recent weeks.

In parallel, President Petro received this on Wednesday Rahul GuptaDirector of the Washington Drug Control Policy Office, and he talked about his approach in the fight against drug trafficking, as well as the 230,000 hectares of crops in the country for illicit use.

(Read: “‘Unfortunate’: Congressmen clash over new suspension in pension debate”)

The opposition march began around 10:00 am at the National Park, where it began its journey along with the entire Septima Race. In addition, several rallies were held in Medellín, Cali and other parts of the country. At least in Bogota, The marchers dispersed around 1:00 p.m., when debate on pension reform was scheduled to resume in Congress. and the vote on the last block of obstructions in the Senate Plenary, which was again postponed due to lack of quorum,

Petro even exchanged words with the President of the Senate through X, name ivan, who requested “independence, respect and non-interference” in Congress, the President said in a recent statement that Nam was “bragging” about not approving pension reform. Petrou responded and stressed, within the framework of the march and the defunct plenary session, that “if pension reform is not debated, millions of elderly people will have no choice.”

The truth is that, although the demonstrations were called by many opposition politicians, other sectors, such as unions and social organizations, were also present. And finally a disagreement came to light General Confederation of Labor (CGT)And his presence generated controversy due to fragmentation in the organization, which already has at least three distinct regions.

The sector which took to the streets has assured that it has been kept out of the decisions taken by the official leadership Percy Oyola, and that has not been taken into account by the government. This is how they explained it mariam luz triana, who leads this dissent: “We are proposing changes in the reforms. We have asked for space from the national government and they have not given us this space. Not even Labor Minister Gloria Ines Ramirez.” The group has existed since April 2022, and according to Triana, the CGT does not want to recognize them.

As did the CGT sector, the Union of Workers of the Oil and Energy Industry (UTIPEC), a group of patients from Colombia, widows of heroes and a group of veterans and reserve organizations also joined the march of public force.

Even, Some transporters join forces due to possible increase in ACPM, causing mobility disruptions on 26th and 10th Streets in Bogotá. Anyway, Ecopetrol has already assured that the prices of petrodiesel will not increase at least in March.

Councilors from opposition parties, such as Daniel Briceño, and other district political figures, such as the former mayor, were also present on the streets. enrique peñalosa, who told this newspaper that some people have already suggested that he would be a presidential candidate in 2026 and that he knows of at least 20 people close to him who are getting up early for the election. He also threatened to organize “the biggest strike ever in this country” if Petro started a riot.

Thus, the call of March 6 reflected a clear confrontation between the national government and its critics, just one day before the meeting of the Supreme Court’s Plenary Session, on the fourth day of the election of the new Prosecutor, and in the midst of a complex scenario of reform in Congress. .

Undoubtedly, both the marches carried out by government supporters yesterday and in February are the first signs of a politically complex 2024. And they are part of it too Prelude to 2026 Presidential ElectionsOn which many people are already betting.

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