Opposition Slams Petro Government for Allocating $263 Million pesos for Mass Mobilizations

Opposition Slams Petro Government for Allocating $263 Million pesos for Mass Mobilizations

The opposition has strongly condemned the government’s decision to allocate more than 200 million pesos for the mobilizations that President Gustavo Petro is organizing for this Wednesday.

Senator María Fernanda Cabal, a member of the Democratic Center party, expressed concern over the Petro government’s allocation of $263,109,000 for the central event at Plaza de Bolívar in Bogota, meant to support Petro’s proposed reforms. She criticized the use of taxpayer funds for what she considers extravagant government expenses.

Representative Hernán Cadavid, a fellow member of the Democratic Center party, raised concerns about the contradiction between burdensome tax reforms imposed on Colombians, which increase costs for both businesses and individuals, and the government’s substantial expenditure on mobilizing marches involving sectors from other regions. He highlighted the inconsistency in these priorities.

(Read Also: Colombia’s Minister of Mines and Energy Assures No Blackout Risk Amid the El Nino Phenomenon)

Dapre and Plaza Mayor Collaborate on Events at Colombia’s Presidential Palace, Plaza de Bolívar

The Administrative Department of the Presidency (Dapre), in collaboration with Plaza Mayor Medellín, has embarked on an initiative to organize events at the Narino Palace, Colombia’s presidential building. The expenses associated with these events include staging, sound, screen setup, lighting, fencing, brigades, and other logistics at the Plaza de Bolívar, a significant public square in the nation’s capital, Bogota.

The crux of the controversy lies in the government’s spending decisions. Critics argue that public funds should be spent more prudently and in a way that benefits the broader public. The allocation of a significant sum for a specific event, such as the Petroreforms, is seen as serving the government’s interests rather than those of the general public.

(Read Also: President Petro Challenges Prosecutor General’s Oversight of Marches Amid Political Controversy)

Attorney General Expresses Concerns Over March Exploitation in Upcoming Elections

Prosecutor General Margarita Cabello has expressed apprehension during the National Commission for Electoral Process Coordination and Monitoring. These concerns have arisen due to political parties, candidates, and citizens expressing anxieties about the potential exploitation of marches by certain candidates for electoral gain in the upcoming elections.

Additionally, she issued a caution that in case the equilibrium in electoral competitions is disrupted, regulatory authorities possess the authority to intervene, ensuring transparency and preserving the political rights of the citizens.

Read More