Within the framework of the dialogue space of the regional consultation table of the Pastos and Quillasingas peoples, President Gustavo Petro spoke on several issues of national interest, highlighting the controversial concept of constituent power and peace processes.
During his speech, Petro stated that “when a people places itself in the mood to decide on the Government, or on the institutions of the State, it places itself on something called constituent power. Constituent power has begun in Colombia. According to the president, signs of this power had already been observed during the national strike, which eventually led to the election of the current Government.
Petro highlighted the importance of the 2016 peace agreements, signed during the Government of Juan Manuel Santos. «That time a plebiscite was lost where the constituent power was cited, they can cite the constituent power. Not us, apparently,” commented Petro, referring to the differences in the implementation of said power.
The president emphasized the need for effective agrarian reform, pointing out that the lack of will of large landowners has prevented its implementation. «The history of Colombia has been to own the land even if they do not produce anything, 15 million hectares of fertile land in which only three million produce. The other two million are produced by peasants and indigenous people, most of whom are not fertile,” said Petro.
You can read: Peace in Colombia and the world, key themes of President Petro during his visit to Sweden and Switzerland
Petro also addressed the problem of non-execution of works financed with resources intended for peace. In 2021, $688 billion was allocated to various business organizations, mayors and governors for projects such as the electrification of the Pacific and the renewal of the Pedet zones. However, these works were not carried out, and Petro questioned the destination of these funds, stating that “the peace money was stolen.”
In response to this situation, the president asked the Planning Director to hire a forensic audit by expert entities for the national Ocad Paz and the general royalty system.
Finally, Petro called to start a regional agreement table in Nariño with social organizations. “You, with the national budgets that we are going to deliver, make yourself available to the regional agreement table of Nariño and let that representative table of popular organizations determine the priorities on which these resources are spent,” he stated.
The president also mentioned the responsibility of the banana company Chiquita Brands in financing paramilitary groups, which led to a genocide in Urabá. Petro criticized the lack of rigor of the Prosecutor’s Office in clarifying these facts and defended the need for effective judicial truth for the country.
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