Former guerrilla and former senator Gustavo Petro, 62, took office this Sunday (7th) as president of Colombia, the first name on the left to come to power in the South American country.
He took office in a grand ceremony in the capital Bogotá, which was attended by 150,000 people, according to the organization. Strong security was set up around Plaza Bolivar, which at 2:30 pm local time (16:30 GMT) was already packed, after lines had formed in the area around Casa de Nariño since morning.
Petro took the stage destined for the presidential oath at 15:15 (17:15 in Brasília). He arrived accompanied by his wife and children and rocked by the cries of “Yes, you can” and “The people, united, will never be defeated.” Before, the politician greeted some of the guests, such as the King of Spain, Felipe 6º, the President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, and the former presidents Juan Manuel Santos and Cesar Gavíria.
As is traditionally the case, the new president walks from the San Carlos Palace, seat of the chancellery, to Bolivar Square. Petro innovated by asking that a red carpet not be rolled out at the venue, as is also tradition. The oath was quick: “I swear to God and I promise the people to comply with the Constitution and the laws of Colombia.” Then the vice-president, Francia Márquez, also did her own thing: “I swear it before my ancestors, until dignity becomes a custom.”
The duo was applauded a lot, while fireworks were heard through the center of the city. Plaza Bolívar was full of young people and indigenous people who, for the first time in the history of the country, played a central role, occupying rows in front of the audience – a request from the vice president, who also carries the uniqueness of being the first black woman in the post.
Representatives of different ethnicities – from the forest, the mountains and the Caribbean region – walked in groups and were surprised by onlookers, journalists or tourists to take pictures. As the downtown streets were blocked, preventing the movement of cars, it was necessary to walk to the control barriers, where many in the queue took musical instruments from their bags and played a little until the police searched each one.
Many young people arrived wrapped in Colombian flags, but it was also possible to see communist symbols and the M-19, a guerrilla in which Petro was a member until the peace agreement that promoted the demobilization of the group in 1990.
In front of the stage, spaces were reserved for foreign leaders and at least ten heads of state present, former presidents of Colombia, military, church representatives and politicians such as the populist Rodolfo Hernández, defeated by Petro in the second round in June. Brazil was represented by Chancellor Carlos França.
Venezuela’s dictator Nicolás Maduro was not invited, although he did send representatives. As Petro’s foreign affairs priority is to reopen the borders and reestablish relations with Caracas, failing to recognize Juan Guaidó as president, the new administration says that things will be done in an orderly manner.
First, the reopening of embassies and border points will be organized; later, a meeting between Petro and Maduro would be promoted. There were rumors that this would take place as early as this Monday (8), but the government denies that the conditions are right now for this, according to a source close to Petro told Sheet.
After the passage of the presidential sash from Iván Duque to Petro, concerts by artists, including regional names, are planned until the end of the night. There are stages set up in several cities across the country. Before taking office, Petro announced two new ministers, Nestor Osuña (Justice), close to former president Juan Manuel Santos, and Catalina Velasco Campuzano (Housing), secretary in the management of Petrona City Hall of Bogotá.
