‘The Constitution is not your ball of rag’: criticism of Petro for calling for a constituent

After the Superior Court of Bogotá absolved the former president Álvaro Uribe of the conviction obtained in the first instance for procedural fraud and bribery of witnesses, a great debate has been opened about the functioning of the Colombian judicial apparatus.

Among the most anticipated reactions, the current President Gustavo Petrowho called on citizens to attend the Plaza de Bolívar, in Bogotá, to register their signatures in order to call a national constituent assembly.

(Further: Guaranteed Minimum Income arrives in this town of Bogotá: what you should know).

“I look forward to all of Bogotá this Friday at 4 pm in the Plaza de Bolívar. Let’s go for national sovereignty. Let’s go for constituent power“, mentioned the head of state on his social networks.

Although the idea of ​​a constituent is not a new approach from the president, it has sparked a heated debate about respect for the separation of powers, respect for institutions and for the 1991 Constitution itself.

‘If he revokes, constituent?’

What the president said has not gone unnoticed in the country’s political sphere and in public opinion, generating reactions and opinions against this idea.

(Besides: Petro accuses Senator Bernie Moreno of instigating Trump against the Colombian Government).

For example, the Senator of the Green Alliance, Angélica Lozanoassured that the proposal could mean a “setback” for the institutions.

“President, if the court ratifies the conviction there is justice, if it revokes, constituent? The ’91 constitution is not your rag ball for politicking, President. Nothing more dangerous for our country than the general, social and institutional setback of rolling back the Constitution“, he mentioned.

Andrés Forero, representative to the Chamber of the Democratic Centersaid on his official X account that his words and his way of acting go against institutions and democracy.

“We are deeply concerned about the antidemocratic attitude that Mr. Gustavo Petro, president of the Republic, has assumed.“, adding: “He goes out to question the magistrates of the Superior Court of Bogotá. And it is alarming that in the face of an adverse ruling, Gustavo Petro threatens with a Constituent Assembly: he wants pocket judges like in Venezuela!“.

In a joint video shared by the director of the New Liberalism party, Juan Manuel Galánseveral presidential candidates and public officials expressed their rejection of the head of state’s proposal, saying that what was proposed by the head of state puts “test our democracy“.

(Besides: President Petro fired the Vice Minister of Water in full broadcast).

They participated in this footage Marta Lucía Ramírez, Felipe Córdoba, David Luna, Enrique Peñalosa, Daniel Palacios and Mauricio Gómez.

He representative to the Chamber, Miguel Polo Polocommented ironically on Petro’s proposal: “Are they going to give tamales again? Will they put buses and chivas like before? And how much will they pay for the day? If you’re going to launch an offer, at least make it complete. Because out of spontaneity, I don’t think they fill even a block…“.

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