The new winner of the elections in Colombia, the leftist Gustavo Petro, explains his priorities in an interview with EL PERIÓDICO.
-What will change in Colombia?
-Colombia has experienced a very long period of violence and poverty. Today we begin to build bridges with the entire Colombian society and together we are going to get this people moving, to generate work, wealth, peace, joy. Colombia is a country of great natural wealth and that must translate into well-being for its women and men.
– Will negotiations be opened with the ELN?
-Peace must be the fruit of dialogue and agreement with all sectors of the country, we are going to work so that there are no more deaths, we are going to turn Colombia into a country of life. Ours is a change for life that wants to banish death, we are going to turn Colombia into a country where everyone can live, recovering respect for human life.
-What relationship are you going to establish with Venezuela?
-One of my first actions is going to be to reopen the border with Venezuela, it is one of our main commercial partners. The closure of borders between the two countries has only generated poverty for Colombia, restoring trade relations is good for the people of Colombia and for the people of Venezuela.
-And with Spain?
The Government of Spain has been a friendly Government and Pedro Sánchez has shown that he wants Colombia to recover its life and have a future. From the respect and not from the colonialism that at some point Spain had towards Colombia. We are going to have excellent relations.
-What are the short-term priorities?
-Colombia is hungry and that is the first priority. I have promised and I am going to comply with subsidies for women heads of households and the elderly without a pension. With that we will palliate part of the famine. But this is circumstantial. Because the objective is to put Colombia to produce, promote agriculture, clothing, tourism and generate hundreds of thousands of jobs. Colombian men and women must live from their worthy work.
– How to achieve a more equitable redistribution of wealth and income?
Tax reform is one of our bets. But above all we are going to boost productivity, regularize the economy and increase state income and, with that, attend to the needs of all those most disadvantaged. Colombia has the capacity to produce enough wealth so that no one goes hungry and education and health are universal and adequate.
Related news
– First President of the left in Colombia. Do you fear reprisals such as an increase in the murders of leftist militants?
-Our victory is at the service of peace. That is, to pacify the territories and provide protection to all. Left-wing militants, peasant, social, indigenous leaders and any human being. Life is inviolable and is above everything. It is also a commitment to that world revolution that must stop climate change.