Protesters name Gustavo Petro’s insurance policies ‘dire’ as his authorities makes an attempt to reform healthcare and different sectors.
Tens of 1000’s of Colombians have taken to the streets in a number of cities to protest in opposition to President Gustavo Petro’s social reform agenda.
About 70,000 folks demonstrated in Bogota on Sunday, based on estimates offered by town authorities. Massive rallies additionally came about in different cities throughout the nation in opposition to Petro’s proposed financial and social reforms.
Protests have been a continuing for the reason that former leftist fighter took workplace in 2022, however have gained momentum as Petro has floated the opportunity of rewriting the structure to spur social reforms blocked by a hostile congress and conservative enterprise teams.
A Senate committee earlier this month rejected a proposed well being reform geared toward stripping energy from insurers and increasing entry to healthcare. The opposition has been angered by the federal government’s transfer to take management of two most important insurers it mentioned had didn’t accurately look after sufferers.
The federal government is anticipated to suggest a brand new model of the well being reform as soon as the brand new legislative session begins in July. Pension and labour reforms are additionally being debated by lawmakers.
Marches have additionally beforehand taken place in help of Petro’s reforms.
“This authorities’s insurance policies are dire. The well being system, regardless of its flaws, was working and now Petro is placing an finish to it by plunging sufferers who don’t have any healthcare or drugs right into a disaster,” Monica Leon, a 45-year-old physician informed the Reuters information company.
‘Topple the federal government’
President Petro mentioned in a publish on X that the protests had been giant in Medellin, Bogota and Bucaramanga however “weak” in 18 different cities.
“The primary aim of the marches is to shout ‘Petro Out’ and to topple the federal government,” Petro mentioned, calling the protests a “delicate coup” to thwart reforms. He known as for an enormous pro-government march on Could 1.
When Petro got here to energy two years in the past he was the primary leftist to manipulate a rustic historically run by conservative elites.
Nevertheless, he misplaced majorities within the legislature a couple of months after his inauguration, and his approval ranking has plummeted.
Seventy p.c of Colombians say the state of affairs within the nation “is getting worse”, based on the Invamer polling group.
Petro’s formidable coverage of “complete peace” – making an attempt to convey an finish to 6 many years of armed battle – has additionally confronted reversals.
Concessions to armed teams have been controversial, with frequent violations reported.