Massive demonstrations in Colombia against the Government of Gustavo Petro

Gustavo Petro was extremely fearful of the upcoming demonstrations against his government in Colombia, so much so that he resorted to trying to sabotage them. In a surprising move, he declared that Friday would be a “civic day” without any prior notice, essentially granting a holiday for educational institutions and state entities.

He encouraged the residents of Bogota to leave the city and take advantage of the long weekend under the pretense of reducing water consumption due to the capital’s water restrictions caused by a prolonged drought. Even some influential figures on social media joined Petro’s efforts, such as Pastor Alfredo Saade, who claimed that their actions had an impact.

Despite Petro’s attempts to deter the demonstrations, hundreds of thousands of Colombians took to the streets in cities like Medellín, Cali, Bogotá, Barranquilla, and Bucaramanga to protest against the president and his statist policies.

In Medellín alone, it was estimated by the District Person’s Office that there were around 200,000 protesters, with the numbers expected to increase. This city is governed by Federico Gutiérrez, who was Petro’s rival in the last presidential elections.

The success of the protest, which was initially organized by ordinary citizens and later gained support from opposition political parties, citizen associations, as well as social and union leaders, represents a moral defeat for President Petro, who seeks to govern without the influence of legislative and judicial powers by claiming to act in the name of the people.

Notable participants in the demonstrations included former ministers and senior officials from Petro’s first government, who were originally aligned with centrist or moderate socialist ideologies. One of the most outspoken critics of Petro was Alejandro Gaviria, who served as a minister during Petro’s tenure. Worth mentioning is the fact that out of the 18 ministers initially appointed in August 2022, only six remain in the cabinet.

The recent Invamer Poll survey revealed that 60% of Colombians disapprove of Petro’s governance, and 70% believe that the situation is deteriorating. This sentiment was clearly expressed in the streets, with slogans like “Fuera Petro!” (Out with Petro!) becoming popular chants during national team matches.

Despite the success of the demonstrations, some argue that they may ultimately have little impact on Petro and his authoritarian tendencies. Carlos Suárez, a political analyst and the director of Strategy and Power, argues that Petro plays his own game using tactics such as money, aid, corruption, decrees, and other forms of presidential power, resembling that of a tyrant.

In response to the protests, President Gustavo Petro briefly announced that he would march alongside the demonstrators and speak from the podium to defend his government’s agenda.