Colombian President Gustavo Petro calls for “general mobilization" in Bogota

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Hundreds of supporters of President Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego gathered in a significant demonstration on Thursday, Sept. 19, near the iconic Plaza de Bolívar in Bogotá, the historical and political heart of Colombia's capital. The primary objective of this citizen mobilization was to defend the Pension Reform which is currently undergoing constitutional review by the Constitutional Court.President of the Central Unitary of Workers (CUT) Fabio Arias Giraldo, Vice Minister of Employment and Pensions Iván Daniel Jaramillo Jassir and Minister of Labor Gloria Inés Ramírez also attended the gathhering.The protesters, carrying banners and chanting slogans in favor of the reform, argue that this change is necessary to address inequality in the current pension system, where only a fraction of the elderly population receives a pension. On the other hand, critics of the reform, mainly from the financial sector and political opposition, warn about possible fiscal risks and the need to ensure the long-term sustainability of the system.The Constitutional Court's decision on the viability of this reform will be crucial not only for the future of the Colombian pension system, but also for the Petro government's political agenda and its ability to implement structural changes in the country.Other topics highlighted by the President in his speech are those related to the threats that have been made against his personal integrity. This concern was clearly reflected in the security measures implemented during the event. In the security scheme surrounding Plaza de Bolívar, the presence of strategically placed snipers was notable, whose mission was to safeguard the security of the President of Colombia. (Footage by Jorge Eliecer Bastidas Barreto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)