Petro warns "soft coup" against him will not prevail

Thursday, June 8th 2023 - 10:26 UTC

Petro warns “soft coup” against him will not prevail
Thursday, June 8th 2023 - 10:26 UTCFull article0 comments

Colombian President Gustavo Petro Wednesday said he could face the same fate as Peru's Pedro Castillo Terrones as Congress might try to impeach him out of office. “Once the reforms are overthrown, they intend to destroy me in the Commission of Accusations,” Petro argued while urging lawmakers not to betray “the will of the people”.

Petro spoke of a “soft coup” against him and warned that there were sectors that seek to replace him “against the popular will, as it happened in Peru.

”It is called a soft coup. It is a coup d'état, against the popular will. Once the reforms are overthrown, they plan to destroy me in the Commission of Accusations to do exactly what was done in Peru“, said Petro.

”We make a respectful request to the Colombian Congress: Approve the reforms that guarantee the rights of the people. Congress should not turn its back on the people,“ Petro insisted.

”They want to take the president to jail and change him for one not elected by the people, who would be the one they are going to elect as head of Congress next semester,“ he then denounced.

”But Castillo was alone. Here we tell them that no, Petro is not alone. If they dare to violate the popular mandate, the people will come out from every corner, from under every stone, from every municipality, to defend the popular triumph.

After cabinet changes due to an illegal wiretapping scandal and allegations of illegal financing of his campaign, the ruling party dismantled the alliance that gave it a majority, and is holding back government initiatives to reform health care, the pension system, and labor legislation.

More:
https://en.mercopress.com/2023/06/08/petro-warns-soft-coup-against-him-will-not-prevail