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A6 WORLD NEWS
Monday 8 august 2022

Ex-rebel takes oath as Colombia president in historic shift

By MANUEL RUEDA June by beating conser- and hurt incumbents who
Associated Press vative parties that offered struggled with its economic
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — moderate changes to the aftershocks.
Colombia’s first leftist presi- market-friendly economy, The ex-rebel’s victory was
dent was sworn into office but failed to connect with also exceptional for Co-
Sunday, promising to fight voters frustrated by ris- lombia, where voters had
inequality and heralding a ing poverty and violence been historically reluctant
turning point in the history against human rights lead- to back leftist politicians
of a country haunted by ers and environmental who were often accused
a long war between the groups in rural areas. of being soft on crime or al-
government and guerrilla Petro is part of a growing lied with guerrillas.
groups. group of leftist politicians A 2016 peace deal be-
Sen. Gustavo Petro, a for- and political outsiders who tween Colombia’s govern-
mer member of Colombia’s have been winning elec- ment and the Revolution-
M-19 guerrilla group, won tions in Latin America since ary Armed Forces of Co-
the presidential election in the pandemic broke out lombia turned much of the

President-elect Gustavo Petro smiles during a ‘popular and spiri-
tual’ inauguration ceremony presided over by local Indigenous
groups and feminist activists, in Bogota, Colombia, Saturday,
Aug. 6, 2022.
Associated Press

focus of voters away from porate tax breaks.
the violent conflicts playing Petro has also said he wants
out in rural areas and gave to start peace talks with re-
prominence to problems maining rebel groups that
like poverty and corrup- are currently fighting over
tion, fueling the popularity drug routes, gold mines
of leftist parties in national and other resources aban-
elections. doned by the FARC after
Petro, 62, has promised to their peace deal with the
tackle Colombia’s social government.
and economic inequalities “He’s got a very ambitious
by boosting spending on agenda,” said Yan Basset,
anti-poverty programs and a political scientist at Bogo-
increasing investment in ru- ta’s Rosario University. “But
ral areas. He has described he will have to prioritize.
U.S.-led antinarcotics poli- The risk Petro faces is that
cies, such as the forced he goes after too many
eradication of illegal coca reforms at once and gets
crops, as a “big failure.” But nothing” through Colom-
he has said he would like to bia’s congress.
work with Washington “as Eight heads of state at-
equals,” building schemes tended Petro’s inaugura-
to combat climate change tion, which was held at a
or bring infrastructure to ru- large colonial-era square
ral areas where many farm- in front of Colombia’s Con-
ers say coca leaves are the gress.
only viable crop. Stages with live music
Petro also formed alliances and big screens were also
with environmentalists dur- placed in parks across Bo-
ing his presidential cam- gota’s city center so that
paign and has promised to tens of thousands of citi-
turn Colombia into a “glob- zens without invitations to
al powerhouse for life” by the main event could join in
slowing deforestation and the festivities. That marked
taking steps to reduce the a big change for Colombia
country’s reliance on fossil where previous presidential
fuels. inaugurations were more
The incoming president somber events limited to a
has said Colombia will few hundred VIP guests.
stop granting new licens- “It’s the first time that peo-
es for oil exploration and ple from the base can
Passions on the Beach’s ‘I Still Do! Dinner menu will ban fracking projects, come here to be part of a
Passions on the Beach allows couples to enjoy a true toes-in-the-sand dining experience even though the oil indus- presidential inauguration,”
along one of the world’s top-ranked beaches, Eagle Beach. From the calming sounds of the try makes up almost 50% of said Luis Alberto Tombe, a
ocean waves and live instrumentals to the soft light reflecting off the ocean as the sun sets the nation’s legal exports. member of the Guambia-
and the moon rises, dining at Passions on the Beach is truly an unparalleled and unforgettable He plans to finance social no tribe who showed up at
experience. In connection with the 4th edition of the ‘I Do! Vow renewal on Thursday August spending with a $10 bil- the swearing in ceremony,
11th, couples are invited to indulge at Passions on the Beach afterwards for our most romantic lion a year tax reform that wearing a traditional blue
night yet – complete with a special I Still Do! menu designed to celebrate and ignite love. would boost taxes on the poncho. “We feel honored
Here’s to forever after! rich and do away with cor- to be here.”q