Petro leading the Pacto Histórico in Colombia, hypothesis of a new national strike

Former Colombian president Gustavo Petro was unanimously elected to lead the Pacto Histórico, the main opposition left-wing formation, and raised the possibility of a national strike against the government of president Abelardo de la Espriella. The nomination was approved yesterday during a meeting of the provisional national coordination of the movement.

In a statement, the Pacto Histórico reported that Petro called for deepening social protest, moving towards a national strike and strengthening the constituent power of the people. The formation also announced a "Pact for Life", an initiative aimed at defending democracy, peace, freedoms and social rights, as part of a strategy that combines mobilization, electoral strengthening and definition of a political program in view of the 2027 administrative elections.

Senator and former presidential candidate Iván Cepeda also raised the possibility of a general strike if the government maintains its line on the protests. The demonstrations of October 14, according to Cepeda, involved citizens and social organizations in around a hundred cities and municipalities. De la Espriella instead defined the protesters as a "small minority" intent on paralyzing the country.