Hundreds of individuals They protest this Sunday in the primary cities of Colombia in opposition to the federal government of Gustavo Petro at a time when his reputation is within the purple after twenty months in workplace.
The varied group of callers consists of medical organizations, the opposition, centrist political forces and a few former allies who at the moment reject their plans to nationalize the well being service and a few reform initiatives and protest the violence that has not subsided regardless of armed peace negotiations. teams.
“I voted for change, for Petro, however we proceed with the identical factor. I march as a result of I nonetheless assume Colombia has some hope and I like my nation,” mentioned Martha Estrada, a 64-year-old retiree carrying a tricolor hat in Bogota.
Within the capital, the rain didn’t cease the protesters and tens of 1000’s are advancing in the direction of the Plaza de Bolívar, adjoining to the presidential seat, AFP confirmed.
Petro got here to energy in August 2020 as the primary left-wing president to manipulate a rustic historically led by conservative elites.
With 60% disapprovalIn line with pollster Invamer, the president has misplaced assist from political forces in Congress and in addition within the public sq. the place he’s normally very lively.
In Cali (southwest), Medellín (northwest), Barranquilla (north), Bucaramanga (northeast) and different capitals, protesters joined with Colombian flags, white T-shirts and a chant in unison: “Out with Petro!”
Considered one of his reform initiatives, that of well beingcut up the nation when Petro started to administratively implement a few of its central axes as a consequence of difficulties in gaining assist in Congress.
Well being and peace
The president aspires to cut back the participation of personal corporations within the provision of well being providers, and in current days among the entities that function mediators of assets between the state and hospitals have intervened to regulate their price range.
Consultants agree that the system is bankrupt and must be reformed, however some query how the federal government intends to do that.
Known as the “white jacket march”, the medical doctors expressed their “disagreements with the present administration of the well being system by the federal government”.
In line with Invamer, 56% of respondents In April they objected that the federal government “is intervening in among the EPS (Well being Promotion Entities) in Colombia to straight administer the system.”
“I’m right here as a citizen, a physician and a Colombian. (…) As a physician you see the deterioration as a result of there are not any drugs to present to sufferers, as a result of sufferers delay care, they now wait even longer for an appointment with a specialist ”, says Dr. Julio Rivero, 35 years outdated, in Bogota.
“The federal government has created extra issues than options (…) and the younger inhabitants gained't even have the ability to retire,” says Andrés Amaya, a 23-year-old lawyer in Bogota.
Protesters in numerous cities carried placards alluding to the insecurity and violence of guerrillas and drug traffickers within the countryside.
The formidable coverage of “Complete Peace” with which the federal government hopes to finish six many years of armed battle is dealing with obstacles.
Their opponents reject the concessions the armed teams are making amid peace negotiations, regardless of frequent violations of what was agreed on the dialogue tables and little signal of willingness to put down arms.
Negotiations with the rebels of the Nationwide Liberation Military (ELN) and the dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) They’ve suffered a number of crises as a consequence of murders, kidnappings and assaults on public forces.
70% of Colombians consider the nation is “getting worse,” in line with Invamer.
The protests additionally come amid a water disaster as a consequence of extreme drought. The rains returned over the weekend, however not sufficient, in line with authorities.
The president has been criticized for being gradual to take measures comparable to rationing. On April 15, he ordered the suspension of power exports to Ecuador.
He declared Friday a “citizen's day” with the request to avoid wasting water and power and “exit this weekend to locations in different hydrographic basins to cut back consumption strain” in Bogota.
The transfer was seen by some critics of Petros as a blow to the decision for protests this Sunday.