Colombia: Crowds Protest Planned Reforms

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Facts

• Large crowds rallied across Colombia on Sunday to protest economic and social reforms proposed by the country's first-ever leftist president, Gustavo Petro.¹
• While opposition politicians have declared that over half a million people took to the streets in Bogotá and Medellín alone, Petro said attendance was about 250K nationwide.²
• This comes as planned reforms in healthcare, labor laws, and taxation — which the government claims will benefit the poor and the country's economy — have raised concerns among several social groups, including healthcare professionals.³
• Earlier this month, a committee in the Colombian Senate rejected the proposed health reform. A new version of the bill is expected to be proposed once the new legislative session begins in July.⁴
• Petro intends to boost state control over the country's health care system in what he says is an effort to lower medical care costs. Following his legislative defeat, he ordered the takeover of two of Colombia's top medical insurers.⁵
• Anti-government criticism, which has been frequent since the former guerrilla took office, has intensified after Petro suggested the possibility of calling a national constituent assembly to spur social reforms.⁶

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²Breitbart, ³Colombiaone, ⁴Reuters, ⁵Associated Press and ⁶Daily Caller.

Narratives

• Right narrative, as provided by The City Paper Bogotá. Colombians have made history this weekend by taking to the streets in a peaceful and civic manner to express their dissatisfaction with Petro's leadership. As the nation worries about potential threats to institutional integrity and its hard-earned democracy, Petro must respect democracy and the Constitution.
• Left narrative, as provided by Colombia News. Sunday's demonstrations weren't nearly as big as the opposition claims, and many of those in the streets were from other walks of life with their own motives. If conservatives and far-right parties are so confident they have the people on their side, they should agree to a constituent assembly.

Predictions