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Celebrating Gustavo Petro – Colombia’s New Leftist President [1]
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Date: 2022-08-11
This week, Gustavo Petro was sworn in as Colombia’s first left-wing president in the country’s history. Already his presidency is threatening to upend the inequality that has riven Colombian life. In his first days Petro has announced a new tax regime that will target the countries wealthiest and its energy sector with the hope to fund new poverty-reduction programs.
This is vitally necessary in a country facing near record level of debt and with tax revenues which only account for 19% of it’s GDP—the second lowest of any OECD country.
However, there are more sweeping changes on offer here that will transform the lives of the countries underprivileged, it’s indigenous peoples, Afro-Colombians, poor farmers and women.
Since Monday, Petro has appointed ministers that demonstrate his dedication to these goals. Cabinet ministers dedicated to abiding by a peace deal with militias, that are already showing signs of paying off; the end of military control of the police and reopening of relations with Venezuela.
His is a program for a more inclusive society, with major social programs, subsidies for the poor and single mothers, as well as free college tuition.
But be in no doubt, there are many hurdles facing the new president. Despite his efforts to build a broad-based coalition, many establishment parties have already come out in opposition to his agenda. The Center Democratic Party, for example, opposes his plans to phase out oil exports. Many others are opposed to giving concessions to militants in return for peace. Nevertheless, there is plenty of reason for hope. The president has announced his progressive agenda in his inauguration address. The full text of which can be read in English, here.
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https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/8/11/2116003/-Celebrating-Gustavo-Petro-s-Instagram-Followers-Colombia-s-New-Leftist-President
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