Thousands reject Colombian President Gustavo Petro's call to support socialism and "march for freedom" instead

Thousands of people demonstrated in the streets of major Colombian cities this Wednesday to reject newly elected President Gustavo Petro's socialist reforms, including a push to socialize its private health care system.  

Hoisting Colombian flags and banners, the protestors messaged the administration with slogans such as, "don't mess with our health" and "no to the Petro reforms."

Many of the protestors demonstrated in the main squares cities to protest coming government initiatives designed to implement labor and pension reforms.

Marchas antigubernamentales el 15 de febrero 2023 en Pereira (Colombia) | ADN América / John Palomino

The nationwide "march for freedom," erupted after the Colombian president urged his leftist supporters to demonstrate in favor of his government.

That call for pro-government demonstrations backfired however after protests emerged in opposition to Petro's new policies, a turn of events that caught the new administration by surprise.

Just one day after the official demonstrations, Colombian cities such as Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, showed their discontent with Petro, with large crowds demonstrating on Tuesday, according to images broadcast on social networks.

The government estimated that some 28,000 people participated in the anti-government marches, held in at least 14 cities and 22 departments, according to National Police Director Tito Castellanos, reported Colombian media RCN.

In Medellín, thousands of people came out to demonstrate with white T-shirts and Colombian flags to reject the initiatives of the leftist government, which they accuse of wanting to make the country look like Venezuela or Cuba.

Petro asks that the citizens demonstrate in the street, we already did it, it was clear that Colombians do not want the Petroreformas. Just compare the gears.

Let's take care of Colombia 🇨🇴 #15F #Medellín pic.twitter.com/mWlY257vRK

— Paola Holguín 🇨🇴 (@PaolaHolguin) February 15, 2023

While in Cali, the main city in the southwest, thousands of protesters left the Parque de las Banderas and arrived at Plaza Jairo Varela, in front of the Mayor's Office, where they expressed their disagreement with government policies.

#ALaCalle15F Thanks Cali! Today the recovery of Colombia and our city began. pic.twitter.com/zUZEBgrg5f

— María Fernanda Cabal (@MariaFdaCabal) February 15, 2023

Invited by Petro, several thousand citizens gathered on Tuesday in Bogotá and other cities in the country to show their support for the reform, a bill that intends to reform the health system, according to what the president said, making health an universal right in the country, and not a "business," as he claims is currently the case.

Petro's vice president, Francia Márquez, said on Monday that Petro hoped to convert the Colombian health system, currently ranked among the best on the continent, into a state-controlled model similar to the impoverished Cuban health system.

This is the first social reform presented by Petro, which will be followed by others such as labor and pension changes. The new administration also hopes to replace fossil fuels with green energy sources.

Marchas antigubernamentales el 15 de febrero 2023 en Pereira (Colombia) | ADN América / John Palomino