Colombia experienced political unrest this Thursday after pro-government protesters blocked access to the Palace of Justice in Bogota to protest the Supreme Court’s failure to select a new attorney general to replace Francisco Barbosa, whose term is expiring and who is being accused by the president. Gustavo Petro about the desire to remove him from power.

Petro, who in recent days has called for demonstrations in defense of his government, accused Barbosa of promoting an “institutional breakdown” and an alleged “coup d’état” while calling on the Supreme Court to choose a successor to the prosecutor whose term expires next Monday.

To counter these alleged conspiracies, in recent days the president has called on his followers to hold demonstrations, which today were led by the Colombian Federation of Educators (Fecode), which is being investigated by prosecutors for allegedly involving money in Petro’s 2022 presidential campaign. it was not stated.

Since none of Peter’s three candidates for the position received the required 16 Supreme Court votes in today’s vote, Deputy Prosecutor Martha Janet Mancera, who also has serious differences with Peter, who links her to an alleged mafia front, will lead prosecutor’s office starting next Tuesday until Barbosa’s successor is chosen.

This lack of definition led to protesters in the Plaza de Bolívar blocking access to the Palace of Justice to prevent the departure of the judges, who were finally removed from the building hours later by police whose intervention was ordered by the President himself. .

“I have a duty to put out those who want to start fires. The judges themselves wanted no violence to be used and no attacks on judges. “The time that is appropriate now is a calm popular organization throughout the country,” the president said in X.

For his part, the mayor of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán, said that given the failure of the dialogue to evict the protesters, “they began to intervene to unblock access and guarantee the free movement of magistrates.”

Widespread condemnation

Supreme Court President Gerson Chaverra strongly condemned the “violent and illegal blockade” of the Palace of Justice, an act he considered “unacceptable.”

“The Supreme Court categorically rejects the ongoing blockade of the Palace of Justice in the capital of the republic over the past few hours, a situation that not only seriously affects the right to freedom of movement, but also puts life and physical integrity at risk. Magistrates, clerks, journalists and other employees are at serious risk the main judicial headquarters of the country,” said the magistrate.

For this reason, he demanded that “the national government provide the necessary guarantees so that the exercise of the powers of this corporation and other Colombian judges can be carried out without pressure, harassment and threats.”

The siege was condemned by political and economic leaders, some of whom asked not to forget the bloody takeover of the Palace of Justice on November 6 and 7, 1985 by M-19 guerrillas, in which Peter participated, which ended in a brutal takeover on November 6 and 7, 1985. the resumption of army activity, resulting in 94 deaths, including 11 judges, dozens wounded and 11 missing.

Former President Cesar Gaviria (1990-1994) directly accused Peter of facilitating today’s demonstrations.

“The actions carried out by the government of President Petro are illegal, unconstitutional actions. President Petro is committing acts that violate the Constitution, he is not only deviating from the rule of law, but he will also commit criminal acts,” said Gaviria, who accused the president of “dictatorial behavior” that “borders on criminality.”

“Inciting protests against independent authorities in order to pressure their decisions is a direct threat to institutional order,” former President Iván Duque (2018–2022) said on his X account.

Former President Andrés Pastrana (1998-2002) struck a similar tone, declaring that “the brutal siege of the Supreme Court and the complicit passivity of the government of Gustavo Petro constitute the most serious attack on justice since the seizure of the Palais de Justice for M-19.”

Respect for institutions

Constitutional Court President Diana Fajardo demanded “fierce respect for the independence of the Supreme Court, as well as the integrity of its members,” while condemning “attacks, violence and insults” that he said only delayed decisions.

Economic organizations also spoke out, such as the Guild Council, which expressed its “strong opposition to violent and vandalistic actions against the Supreme Court.”

“Any type of passive or active pressure on courts and judges to influence their decisions is unacceptable. The independence of decisions of the branches of government, especially the judiciary, is the basis for protecting the rights of all Colombians and respect for the Constitution and laws,” he said.

The president of the Colombian-American Chamber (AmCham Colombia), Maria Claudia Lacouture, said: “Protests are a valid expression of democracy,” but “they should not affect the rights of citizens who do not share their goals, much less represent pressure.” independent powers.” EFE