Thousands of pensioners and supporters of President Gustavo Petro gathered this Thursday in the center of Bogotá and other parts of the country to support pension reformrecently approved by the president, and other projects that the Government wants to promote.
The main rally, in Bogotá, took place after a demonstration along one of the capital’s main streets that brought together the elderly, gathered under the name ‘March and rallies for gray hair’ to the central Plaza de Bolívar, where they met social organizations, unions and other associations.
(Read more: Five lawsuits against pension reform admitted: who filed them?).
The lines stretched for a block because of the hundreds of pensioners and their companions who wanted to access the Plaza de Bolívar, which had been cordoned off for the event. organized by the Government in the run-up to the day of the pensioner and in which the president is expected to speak.
Currently, Some 500,000 people benefit from this reform, approved last June by Congress and already sanctioned by the president.a figure that will increase to three million Colombians in 2025, who will be able to have a minimum pension that allows them to live.
Demonstrations on September 19
Manuel Alfonso del Cano, a 70-year-old from Bogotá, explained to EFE that supporting this reform is supporting the thousands of Colombians who “They did not see the need to count the weeks of contributions“and that, by not having fulfilled them, they cannot receive the pension, as is their case.
(You may be interested in: Petro defends pension reform and denounces threats against him).
“I had to start working very young to help my family, but I lost my job at 40 and stopped counting weeks.” he added, and assured that “is strong to work“but at his age no one would hire him.
Another of the attendees, Bernarda Muñoz, went to the square with her group of friends: “It is very important to support humble elderly people“, he told EFE, while considering that “Petro is the only president who has thought about the elderly“That’s why they came in a group to support him.
New support against the “coup”
Petro made this call for demonstrations in support of his Government at a time when he has been denouncing an alleged coup d’état and a plan to assassinate himand after the mass demonstration that took place last Saturday at the National University with the ranks of his party.
The Colombian president has lashed out at the National Electoral Council (CNE)which is administratively investigating his electoral campaign for possible irregularities in its financing, and which could possibly be part of the plan to overthrow him, according to the president.
(You may be interested in: President Petro proposed adjusting the tariff formula: this is what he proposes).
Demonstrations on September 19
Petro himself participated in the meeting on Saturday and said amidst the cheers of the public: “Every time I win they want to get rid of me; they are bored with Petro, every time the people elect me, they want to overthrow me (…) They can no longer stand Petro in the Presidency“.
He also said that it was the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)through that country’s ambassador in Bogotá, warned him of an alleged plan to assassinate him before the end of this year in an attack with a truck loaded with dynamite.
In this context, The president has repeatedly urged his followers to take to the streets in response to this alleged coup d’état..
EFE
