Petro threatens general strike, defends legacy in final speeches

Colombian President Gustavo Petro used his final Independence Day addresses to threaten a general strike if president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella reverses his reforms and to defend his administration's record. Source: Clarín

Independence Day address

Speaking in Ciudad Bolívar after the military parade, Petro stated, "No se deja quitar una reforma por un Congreso, se va a huelga general indefinida" ("One does not let a reform be taken away by a Congress, one goes on indefinite general strike"). Source: Infobae He reiterated that his departure is "transitory" and that he will lead the opposition Pacto Histórico. Source: El Nacional

Petro also repeated unsubstantiated allegations of electoral fraud, claiming that official candidate Iván Cepeda was the true winner. Official results show De la Espriella won by a margin of 0.96% (approx. 250,000 votes). Source: Clarín He asserted that De la Espriella's victory was due to support from U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Source: El Nacional

Congressional speech

Later at the Capitol, Petro delivered a nearly two-hour address before Congress, sparking complaints about its length. Source: El Colombiano He claimed his government achieved the lowest poverty, unemployment, and inequality in decades. Source: Clarín He criticized De la Espriella's plan to restore diplomatic relations with Israel, calling Israel's military offensive a "genocide."