Petro’s inaugural year was characterized by guaranteeing free higher education, agrarian reform, reopening of relations with Venezuela, and an attempt to reform health care, labor regulations, and pensions.
The United States backs anti-narcotics operations as Colombia’s military faces a storm of criticism.
October 2, when the peace accords were defeated in a referendum, should not be remembered solely as the day in which dreams of a peaceful Colombia were deferred. Although absent the implementation of the peace accord, participatory action will remain largely confined to the local and regional level, the resiliency of Colombian social life in the face of violence will still help to define a new Colombian democracy.
The simple yes-or-no choice presented by the October 2 referendum does not take into account how the accord will be implemented and the profound divisions that exist after decades of civil war, militarization and politically motivated violence, and is a historic achievement. Nowhere is the resistance to any agreement with FARC more visible or vocal than in the rightwing political movement founded and led by Sen. Alvaro Uribe Vélez, Colombia's former president.
“The horrible night has ceased,” said Santos, quoting a phrase from Colombia’s national anthem.
‘I can’t believe this is really happening. This is a great day for Colombia,’ says Alonso Cardoza from the remote town of Uribe where the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia formally took its name.
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