Former Colombian peace negotiator affirms President’s legitimacy to make changes to peace agreement

Humberto De la Calle, the former chief peace negotiator for the Colombian government, has stated on Friday that Colombian President Gustavo Petro has the legitimacy to propose changes to the peace agreement signed in 2016 between the former government and the FARC guerrilla. Although De la Calle disagrees with Petro’s approach, he acknowledges the President’s authority to suggest changes in Colombian society.

De la Calle, who helped secure a historic peace deal with the FARC rebels in Cuba, agrees with Petro’s views on inequality in Colombian society. However, he emphasizes that any change must be a democratic process and not limited only to the countryside. In 2016, Colombia signed a peace agreement with the FARC, Latin America’s oldest and largest rebel group, with De la Calle leading the government negotiations.