Thousands of people took to the streets of the country’s main cities. Colombia to protest against the political, economic and social reforms promoted in Congress by President Gustavo Petro, as part of a new protest called by the opposition.

Petro, a 64-year-old economist who took office as the first leftist president in the country’s history, has promised to implement ambitious social programs to reduce poverty and inequality and strive for “complete peace” to end the armed conflict. over six decades it resulted in the deaths of at least 450,000 people.

Under the slogans “Down with Petro, down with Petro”, with flags Colombia Some 70,000 people, blowing whistles and bubuzelas, marched through Bogota in the rain until they gathered in the historic Plaza de Bolívar square in the city center, according to the capital’s government secretariat.

The current government’s main initiatives include pension, labor and education reforms after Congress rejected and failed one reform aimed at regime change. from health care amid Petro’s decision to take control of the main organizations responsible for serving millions of users in clinics and hospitals.

“I am participating in this march to protest against bad government, to demand that Peter respect justice, keep his word, not destroy what works and end the corruption that he promised to fight,” Miguel Angel, 52, told Reuters -year-old Larrota. a one-year-old accountant during a march in Bogota.

The protests, which were peaceful, widespread and without acts of vandalism, also spread mainly to the cities of Medellin, Cali and the capitals of other departments.

“The policies of this government are disastrous. The flawed health care system was working and Petro ended it, plunging patients who have no care and no medicine into crisis,” said Monica Leon, a 45-year-old doctor dressed in the white coat she wears at the clinic. from Bogota.

Although Petro does not have a solid majority in Congress after the coalition of left, center and even right-wing parties that supported him a year ago fell apart, the president has made progress in recent weeks on pension and education reforms, even though they are in place. was not approved.

“He must understand that the country does not accompany him in his destructive goal. In this march there is not only the opposition, but also many people who voted for Peter and regret it,” said Senator Paloma Valencia of the opposition Democratic Center. (Reuters).

Peter’s reaction

The president stated that the purpose of the mobilization was to overthrow his government.

He stated that the right to freely demonstrate was respected and that a total of 250,000 people took part.

Here is his statement: