Inside New speech from the balcony of Casa de Nariño Before Congress—the first was February 14—President Gustavo Petro once again insisted on the need to move forward with social reforms and assured that if these were excuses, there could be a revolution in the country, a message that didn’t quite fit. predominantly opposition sectors.
“The people cannot sleep. It is not enough just to win at the ballot box, social change requires a constant struggle and a permanent struggle takes place with a mobilized people, and the youth, laborers and the working class should be at the forefront of this mobilization. After the traditional marches held on the International Labor Day, the Plaza de Armas” The president gave assurances in front of hundreds of people who came to Istanbul.
It was an hour-and-a-half speech in which President Petro insisted on the importance of the social reforms his government had brought to the Congress of the Republic: health, work and pension reforms.
However, he once again called on the people to mobilize and asked them not to leave him alone. He added that due to a lack of mobilization, major change reforms cannot be left to themselves “so that they can always be worked out by those who oppose them.”
(Read: Gustavo Petro’s speech: The eight most difficult messages on Labor Day)
According to Peter, this would be a waste of time, which he says is waiting for the workers to “fight”. We will not go further than one meter from where the people do not want. We will not go one meter below where the people want. We will go as far as the people’s decisions want. If they want to go further, we go further. But you need a working class that wants to rule,” commented Petro.
And he insisted that the government needed popular power. “I wonder, is it now time for the working people to decide, who have decided to run a government made up of a mobilized people who should not just protest but have a majority?”
“Don’t leave us alone in these huge, cold palaces. Do not leave us alone in front of the flock of the privileged. Now is the time for change and there is no need to go back.” He did so after taking on the role of those who came out to protest during the social epidemic, a phenomenon he says brought him to power.
While during the campaign Petro shunned these protests, some of which were marked by violence and vandalism, today he sided with them. I am here because of that struggle.”
(We recommend reading: Gustavo Petro’s balcony shot: this is a message to the workers)
“As the revolution continues, we need the Colombian people,” the president asked the people. And he said: “Do not leave us alone before the flock of the privileged.”
A similar thesis was previously voiced by Vice President Francia Márquez, who was at the marches in Cali. “I’m not afraid to say long live the ‘frontline’ here. “Many of them were killed, their eyes gouged out, they were imprisoned, and today the people are telling them that we are with you and we will not forget you.” “The workers invite you to be at the forefront of the transformations in Colombia,” said Petro in Bogotá.
And in parallel with Petro’s speech, Vice President Francia Márquez spoke along the same lines but from Cali.
“Today you (this is May 1), the people of Colombia have shown you who is in charge in this country. The Colombian people are in power, the Colombian peasantry is in power, their Afro-descendants are in power, the peasants are in power, the youth are in charge, the youth of Cali and I here long live I am not afraid to say ‘front’. line,’” commented Márquez.
These messages were harshly criticized by both the opposition and independent sectors. Since a warning of revolution is also seen as pressure on Congress if reforms are not approved, they think the president is radical at a time when consensus should prevail, putting democracy and separation of powers at risk. As for the Cortes before a possible constitutional review.
“In the name of the ‘Revolution’, we have been at war for more than 60 years, despite all the claims of peace. “President Petro once again encourages him to continue,” said Senator David Luna of Cambio Radical.
The former mayor of Bogotá, Enrique Peñalosa, voiced his views along the same lines, urging the president not to intimidate Colombians.
(In context: Petro’s manipulation that increases political tension / Analysis)
“Let’s respect democracy, Congress, the courts, the law. Those of us who don’t think like you want to improve the lives of those who need it most and build more equality. “We thought his suggestions would hurt Colombians,” he said.
Former President Andrés Pastrana said: “With zero street support for their insanity, Petro is declaring the health and pensions of Colombians a military target.”
Regarding the social reforms currently being processed in Congress, the president assured that “if the health and pension reform is not approved, health care providers (EPS) will cease to exist and so will private pension funds.”
He added that they are the product of a “failed system” and that maintaining it “just brings disaster”. “It is not true that we have one of the best healthcare systems in the world, what a big lie. On the contrary, the Lancet magazine says we’re number 81. We want a transformative axis in health: public administration and nationwide prevention of public resources,” he questioned by announcing the Law 100, which sparked the backlash of former president Álvaro Uribe: “Law 100 saved $80,000 million for workers who guarantee pensions and support the national economy. “
Regarding the labor reform, which has not yet been discussed, he argued that it was so that people could access a lifetime pension. “This is very important for change in Colombia. What it proposes: leisure, labor stability, trade unionism to protect workers’ rights, but reform needs workers’ mobilization and struggle,” he said.
President Petro also spoke about agrarian reform. “The privileged do not give us land voluntarily”, so the Government said they had to go after the land if they were not offered it.
The President made the speech even though he was recovering from a flu that had affected him recently. He even had to interrupt several times due to a problem in his voice and drank water all the time.
“If you don’t buy land, you can’t abide by the peace agreement,” he said.
On the other hand, at the beginning of an important week in which the final discussions on the National Development Plan will take place in the Congress, Petro claimed that although he dissolved the coalition last week, the areas for dialogue are open. After failing to reach consensus with the Liberal, Conservative and ‘la U’ parties to approve health care reform, the last term acted like a steamroller.
“We did not leave the flag of the agreement. We are not far from dialogue because the only thing that separates humans from animals is dialogue.” thought”.
MATTHEW GARCIA
POLITICAL ARTICLE
Source: Exame
I am Bret Jackson, a professional journalist and author for Gadget Onus, where I specialize in writing about the gaming industry. With over 6 years of experience in my field, I have built up an extensive portfolio that ranges from reviews to interviews with top figures within the industry. My work has been featured on various news sites, providing readers with insightful analysis regarding the current state of gaming culture.
