In the middle of World Strategic Forumheld last December 11 at Florida International University, the former president Iván Duque spoke about the political and economic situation of the country.
The former head of state affirmed that the government of his successor, Gustavo Petrohas been characterized by being ideologized, radial, anti-business and with “iconoclasm criterion“.
(You can read: Petro Government would have closed 2024 by scraping the budget pot).
Likewise, I mention: “They have hit the health sector because they want to nationalize, they have hit the energy sector, renewable energy, investment falls, there is very poor budget execution and every issue becomes a vision of statism versus private initiative, what does that do, uncertainty, Companies are not increasing investment capex, they are all with operational budgets and this translates into low levels of growth“.
Ivan Duke.
Your proposal for the 2026 elections
Duque also expressed his concern about an alleged intention of the National Government in “capture“electoral power.
“They are trying to overthrow the national registrar, the person in charge of the electoral system, through a court ruling, so it is very important to surround the electoral system and in view of the 2026 elections, what I have been proposing is that we overcome what in some countries call it the narcissism of small differences“said the former president.
(Further: Petro defends the increase in the UPC for 2025: ‘Did it seem like a little bit?’).
He also expressed: “In the case of the center-right and the Latin American right we have many coincidences, but a difference this small generates irreconcilable abysses, while on the left side there are many differences, but a small coincidence makes them monolithic“.
And he added: “I think we have to think about a great national Republican alliance for 2026, where there can be a great convergence of forces, arrive solid and win the next election“.
This Sunday, May 29, the presidential elections will be held.
During the forum, the former head of state was also asked on the possibility of a constitutional reform so that Petro seeks re-election.
”Petro has had that intention, he has had the intention of staying in power, he has said it publicly, obviously the two mechanisms that are constitutionally legitimate today are a constituent assembly or a plebiscite. The time does not allow him for either of the two, so the fear, which I aired publicly, is that I would like to capture the constitutional court to try to find a figure brought from the hat to suddenly not necessarily re-elect, but to extend the presidential mandate“Duke pointed out.
(Besides: Afidro warns that the UPC should have increased to 16.4%).
The former president also stated that the biggest challenge for the new US Government in Latin America is the elimination of dictatorships in the region, specifically in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba. This objective, as he pointed out, requires a combination of diplomacy, international pressure, sanctions and the recognition of leaders such as the case of Edmundo González Urrutia.
Likewise, he emphasized the importance of the Venezuelan Military Forces aligning with the Constitution to facilitate a democratic transition.
PORTFOLIO
*With information from EL TIEMPO – POLITICS
