On July 20, the Independence Day parade started more than two hours late. The reason? President Gustavo Petro was not present to be able to start the event at the scheduled time.
(Read more: What will Petro do in Paris, besides attending the opening of the Olympic Games?)
The delay of the head of State caused annoyance, Not only among members of Congress and other figures present at the event, but also among the public opinion that was waiting for the traditional parade. In fact, several people described this action as a “lack of respect for the Armed Forces and the Nation.”
To clarify the matter, the president spoke out through his X account and explained what prompted the delay. “Was I late? Yes. Information to be corroborated from the US embassy, and a lack of coordination with my escort service, caused the delay,” Indian.
The defense of President Petro’s delay also came from the director of the Department of Social Prosperity, Gustavo Bolívar. According to the official, “The late arrival had to do with security recommendations.”
(Read more: Corruption at UNGRD: Petro’s response to the outflow of resources to the ELN)
President Gustavo Petro at the July 20 parade
TIME
(See: House of Representatives elected Jaime Raúl Salamanca as new president)
Despite his late arrival, the president had to leave the event before it ended. Casa de Nariño explained that this was because he had to go to the Congress building.
“The President left before the military parade to change and fulfill the commitment of the installation of the Legislative”they explained.
It is worth remembering that This is not the first time that President Gustavo Petro arrives late to an eventIn July 2023, the press was able to confirm that the president cancelled or rescheduled around 82 events.
(Read more: In pictures: this is how Congress 2024-2025 was installed)
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