The streets of major cities in Colombia became on Wednesday (15) a platform for thousands of people to express discontent with the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, and the health, labor, and social security reforms, among others.
The protests outnumbered the demonstrations in support of the government and the health care reform, presented on Monday amid a rain of criticism from different sectors that consider it harmful to the people.
In Bogota, the main demonstration went from the National Park to Plaza Bolivar, the center of Colombia’s political and judicial power, all amid chants against the Petro government and applause for the military that were in some parts of the way.
In general, the demonstrators wore Colombian shirts, white or sports, amidst placards rejecting not only the proposed reforms but also the peace negotiations with the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and Petro’s “total peace”.
The most crowded marches were in Bogotá and Medellín, where demonstrators chanted against Petro and the mayor of the capital of the department of Antioquia, Daniel Quintero.
By late afternoon, the authorities had not reported any disturbances or confrontations with police. The day was expected to end calmly because the calls stressed that everything should occur without disturbing public order.
“Petro never again”, “no to the reforms”, and “no to the reforms against the people” were the chants of the people in Bogota, where posters stressed the rejection of the government.
The Colombian government presented on Monday the health reform, which has caused debate in the country for weeks and has not convinced the people who see this right threatened.
However, they accept that adjustments should be made to what is already in place.
Petro seeks with his reform to transform the health system to strengthen primary care and take care of the “abandoned territories.”
With information from Gazeta do Povo