At his swearing in Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla, says the country is getting a ‘second chance’ to tackle violence and poverty
has been sworn into office, promising to fight inequality and bring peace to a country long haunted by bloody feuds between the government, drug traffickers and rebel groups.
“It’s time for a new international convention that accepts that the war on drugs has failed,” he said. “Of course peace is possible. But it depends on current drug policies being substituted with strong measures that prevent consumption in developed societies.” Hundreds gathered in the country’s capital to celebrate the inauguration of the new Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Vice President Francia Marquez in Bogota.A 2016 peace deal between Colombia’s government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia turned the focus of voters away from the violent conflicts playing out in rural areas and gave prominence to problems like poverty and corruption, fuelling the popularity of leftist parties in national elections.
He has said Colombia will stop granting new licenses for oil exploration and will ban fracking projects, even though the oil industry makes up almost 50% of the nation’s legal exports. He plans to finance social spending with a $10bn a year tax reform that would boost taxes on the rich and do away with corporate tax breaks.
Petro has instead said he will recognise Maduro’s government and try to work with the Venezuelan president on several issues, including fighting rebel groups along the porous border between the countries. Some border residents are hoping that improved relations will generate more commerce and job opportunities.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Former guerilla group member sworn in as Colombia's first leftist presidentThe ex-rebel's victory was also exceptional for Colombia, where voters had been historically reluctant to back leftist politicians — often accused of being soft on crime or allied with guerillas.
Read more »
The 23-year-old fashion designer dressing Colombia’s first black female vice-presidentWhen Francia Márquez became the South American country’s VP elect, she chose the unknown Esteban Sinisterra Paz to create her outfits
Read more »
Revealed: UK ran cold war dirty tricks campaign to smear Kenya’s first vice-presidentSpecial unit spread fake news about leftist politician, Oginga Odinga, seen as threat to British interests in 1960s
Read more »
It’s the culture war games – and the last Tory contenders are on the run from reality | Nesrine MalikJohnson is on his way out but the ‘war on woke’ is here to stay: it’s all they have to talk about as the economy crumbles, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
Read more »
Pennsylvania house fire kills seven adults and three childrenCriminal investigation is under way, authorities say, and one of the firefighters discovered house belonged to his relatives
Read more »