During his speech at the Great National Meeting for Health and Care of Life, held in Medellín, the president stated that there is a strategy aimed at intimidating a part of the civilian population due to their political convictions, a situation he compared to episodes of political violence that occurred in the country's past.
Petro affirmed that, without a timely response from the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, he will go to international bodies to report the facts. "If Colombian justice does not act, I will file the corresponding complaint with the International Criminal Court," emphasized the head of state.
What did he say about the alleged political extermination lists?
The president warned of the existence of discourses that, according to him, promote the elimination of entire political movements and currents. In his view, such expressions cannot be interpreted solely as electoral confrontation, but as threats against citizens identified with a particular ideological perspective.
Petro recalled that Colombia has already experienced episodes of political extermination, such as the case of the Patriotic Union (Unión Patriótica), and warned that any attempt to repeat similar scenarios could have criminal implications under both national legislation and international law.
President Gustavo Petro fulfilled his promise to Antioquia. Meeting for health and care of life - YouTube
Another central theme of his speech was the denunciation of an alleged international disinformation campaign designed to damage the image of his administration.
According to the president, this strategy would be backed by resources from abroad and aimed at influencing Colombian public opinion during the current electoral scenario.
In that context, he mentioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, and Argentine President Javier Milei, whom he accused of being part of a network of political and economic interests that, according to his claims, seeks to intervene in the Colombian political situation.
Why did President Petro relate Colombia to the situation in Gaza?
During his speech, the president argued that some political sectors are promoting scenarios of confrontation that could lead to acts of large-scale violence.
In that sense, he expressed concern over statements that, he indicated, propose actions "worse" than those that occurred in Gaza, a reference he used to warn of the risks of deepening cycles of violence that have historically affected Colombia: "They want to come govern Colombia threatening with rifles, with extermination lists, and to do something in Colombia worse than what they did in Gaza."
For Petro, the country faces the challenge of preventing hate speech from becoming a tool of political dispute.
The head of state also questioned the role of large technological platforms and artificial intelligence systems in the circulation of political content. According to him, there are algorithmic mechanisms that limit the dissemination of his speeches and other critical voices regarding the Israeli military offensive in Gaza.
He warned that the concentration of communicative power in private companies could become a risk factor for democracy and the free exchange of ideas globally.
What did he say about the situation of journalist Beto Coral?
In his speech, the president also referred to the case of Colombian journalist Beto Coral, who is facing a judicial process in the United States despite having received political asylum in that country.
Petro stated that the situation represents an act of ingratitude toward the history of the Coral family, recalling that the journalist's father was killed while participating in operations against drug trafficking and criminal structures led by Pablo Escobar.
According to the president, the case transcends the individual sphere and has implications for relations between the two countries.
On economic matters, the president criticized proposals that suggest dollarizing the Colombian economy.
Petro warned that replacing the Colombian peso with the dollar would mean renouncing monetary sovereignty, in addition to reducing the Bank of the Republic's capacity to intervene in national economic policy.
The head of state defended the recent strength of the Colombian currency and argued that economic decisions must primarily respond to the country's interests and not to those of foreign economies.
At the close of his speech, Petro called on new generations to actively participate in public conversation through social networks.
The president invited young people to use digital platforms as tools for democratic mobilization and defense of life, ensuring that citizen participation is key to counteracting discourses based on fear and violence.
With information from Radio Nacional de Colombia
