Published 05/30/2026 12:43
“Not only is the presidency of Colombia at stake, but the strengthening of Latin American integration relations at a time when the head of the White House believes he is the president of the world. The victory of sovereignty, democracy and justice is Trump’s defeat”, defended Antonio Javier Peñaloza, campaign coordinator for Iván Cepeda, candidate of the Historic Pact in this Sunday’s elections (31).
In a meeting with the “Friends for Bogotá” Association this Thursday (28), Peñaloza pointed out that the “Colombian people have awakened their critical consciousness”, something materialized at the polls in March, with the growth of the parliamentary bench in support of the measures taken by Gustavo Petro’s government.
Former secretary-general of the Democratic Pole – a party defending social justice, human rights and peace – which joined the Historic Pact, currently supporting the policies of the Petro government, the leader denounced the angry behavior of a right-wing “that only shouts, swears and says insults without any basis in reality”.
If the country is experiencing difficulties, the result of 60 to 70 years of misgovernment by conservatives and liberals who institutionalized the assault on the State as a common practice, “an ethical revolution is now necessary to confront macrocorruption”, he highlighted. “And this is our commitment”, he added.
“Our priority will be investing in children, which is where poverty and inequality begin. We will invest resources in free public education, from childhood to university, to give opportunities to everyone. The second ‘pearl’ is to deliver land to peasants, with lines of credit and advice”, he pointed out, giving stability and security to the interior and making food reach the worker’s table cheaper.
Ideas of Simon Bolívar
Peñaloza reiterated that it is essential that progressive forces continue to advance to put Latin American integration on a new level, both from a political and economic point of view. “A genuine, dignified, sincere and efficient relationship so that our people can be brothers, developing the ideas of the liberator Simón Bolívar”, he added.
This unity and mobilization, highlighted Peñaloza, will strengthen our pressure capacity, as “it is not right for Trump to continue meddling in Latin American countries, as we deserve to have the freedom to continue building our own politics and development, valuing our culture and dignity”.
Asked about the absence of Colombian media at an event with more than 200 leaders, Cepeda’s campaign coordinator explained that “this is a sector very linked to the right and, as owners of big capital, it is not committed to democracy, but to enhancing its profits”. “They don’t care about social programs, they want the people to continue going hungry. This is the opposition they have with the left, as we defend a growing, humane economy, aimed at the most vulnerable. We want these human beings relegated by the logic of the elites to also be able to progress, advance and transform society. We seek dignified living conditions for all human beings”, he highlighted.
According to Peñaloza, “our struggle and commitment is to come to power to open channels of dialogue with the productive sectors, with the industrial sectors, in order to generate more jobs and income”. This will be the recipe to make the economic wheels turn.
In relation to the same media, the leader proposes, “we will seek agreements for a real democratization” of the word, since today the Colombian people are impregnated and fed up with manipulations and lies. “If we do not achieve progress in this regard, we will have to resort to the Constituent Assembly, a mechanism that the Constitution gives us to deepen democracy. So, as our president Gustavo Petro is already promoting, we will seek to achieve the changes and transformations that our people so desperately need”, he concluded.
300 customers murdered
For Álvaro Cabrera Durán, businessman honored at the event, the movement that began in the capital with a small number of people committed as “Friends for Bogotá” today has expanded to Barranquilla, Cauca, Cali, among other important cities in the country, “formalizing a pact for the victory of Iván Cepeda and the development of Colombia”.
“This is a serious cause, of people committed to creating jobs and guaranteeing social and labor rights”, maintained Dom Álvaro, for whom the presence of the national coordinator of the Cepeda campaign at the event, “is a “recognition of the work that has been done”, demonstrating that the “bases are the fundamental pillar of victory against the setback”.
A businessman in the hotel sector, Dom Álvaro is active in the Tesauquillo Faith Community, was tortured and had more than 300 clients murdered by reactionary Colombian governments. His trajectory is recognized for his commitment to mobilization and the fight for the community.
* This coverage by the ComunicaSul Collaborative Communication Agency was only possible thanks to the support of the São Paulo Bank Workers Union; Writers’ Union of the State of São Paulo; newspaper Hora do Povo; Red; Global South Dialogues; Citizenship Mail; Baron of Itararé; councilor Werner Rempel (PCdoB) of Santa Maria-RS; Professor Azuaite, from São Carlos-SP; Instituto Angelim, in addition to several anonymous contributors
Source: vermelho.org.br