Push, Pull

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Thousands of Colombians took to the streets of major cities this week to protest against President Gustavo Petro’s proposed reforms and ongoing security challenges in the South American country, Reuters reported.

In the capital Bogota, demonstrators brandished banners reading “No more Petro!” and “Out, Petro!” as they voiced discontent with his policies. Demonstrations also took place in other cities, with police estimating that around 52,000 people participated.

Petro – Colombia’s first leftist leader – is facing opposition to his ambitious reform agenda targeting the health care, pension, labor and education systems.

Critics of the reforms warned they would harm the country’s economy, adding that the changes would leave too much of Colombians’ hard-earned savings in the hands of a public service with a long history of corruption.

The president has defended the reforms as beneficial for the country’s most vulnerable people, adding that he wants to curb reliance on private funds, Agence France-Presse noted.

Even so, he lacks a majority in Congress to pass the reforms following the collapse of a fragile coalition government last April.

Meanwhile, protesters also expressed disillusionment with Petro’s handling of Colombia’s security situation, including his efforts to end the country’s decades-long civil conflict with rebel groups that has killed more than 450,000 people.

His attempts to negotiate “total peace” with armed groups have faced challenges, with frequent ceasefire violations and ongoing violence affecting civilians, particularly in rural areas.