On July 20, the country witnessed an atypical celebration of Independence Day, due to the fact that President Gustavo Petro sparked several controversies by arriving late to the traditional military parade that takes place that day and the events surrounding the installation of Congress.
In light of the different reactions to the events that occurred during the July 20 celebrations, congressmen opposed to the Petro government met in order to express their points of view on the speech given by the president and the subsequent installation of Congress.
The senator Miguel Uribe, together with congressmen Marelen Castillo, Daniel Carvalho, Óscar Campo and Miguel Polo Polo, They agreed that President Petro seems to describe a very different country than the one Colombians currently live in.
“What we have seen lately is a president who speaks of a country that does not exist. We see a president describing a country that is far from the one we Colombians live in,” said Miguel Uribe.
Uribe stated that a A significant part of the national territory is under the control of “guerrillas and the Gulf Clan”additionally citizens are besieged by micro-trafficking.
“Millions of Colombians are disappointed by Petro’s promises, especially by the corruption that has become known,” he added.
For her part, Representative Marelen Castillo stated that Gustavo Petro “lives in a different, utopian country and does not advance beyond that.” She also indicated that There is low budget execution and security failures, which is why “Cauca is in a security crisis.”
“What kind of total peace? Extortions are increasing and it is not the country he imagines, because people live in a different reality,” added Castillo.
In turn, the representative Daniel Carvalho said it is unacceptable for the national government to label people as “fascists or paramilitaries” to those who criticize the reforms or other actions of the Petro Government.
“The president comes out with a speech about a national agreement, but he is incapable of tolerating criticism. He only knows how to defame his opponents.”
Miguel Uribe also stated that there is deep indignation at this moment and stressed that the “country is much more than a bad president.” In this regard, Uribe declared that it is important for citizens to wake up and understand the situation, stating: “Gustavo Petro is a president who does not listen and does not want to correct mistakes, because their motivation is not to solve citizens’ problems, their greatest interest is their political project.”
Senator Uribe said that the only person who benefits from the constituent assembly is Gustavo Petro because it allows him to stay in power, but “citizens do not need that, they need a good president.”
“It can’t be done “change the current constitution for a statist constitution that puts an end to freedom,” Uribe stressed.
Finally, the congressmen expressed doubts about Gustavo Petro’s willingness to create a union, despite the fact that the president offered apologies for the corruption scandals that plague the government.
Daniel Carvalho and Miguel Polo Polo declared that these apologies were a diversionary maneuver, stating that if Gustavo Petro has a real “crusade against corruption”, has already taken action against officials who have been accused of committing illegal acts.
“I do not believe in such national unity, because that will end in the co-optation of parties, even historically right-wing parties, through bureaucratic favors,” said Carvalho.
Finally, Miguel Polo Polo indicated that if the Colombian president really wants the country’s forgiveness, he must carry out Visible actions against corruption and people close to his government who are accused of receiving money.
