Nine congressmen plan to rebuke Petro for his "aggressive language" towards the Legislature, as demonstrated in upcoming protests on May 1.
Here's an unfettered, unabashed take on the hot button issue:
A band of nine lawmakers plan to slam the President, Gustavo Petro, for employing a "bullying tone" during a rant against Congress during the May Day demonstrations. The event commemorated International Workers' Day and facilitated the submission of Petro's proposal for a referendum that aims to endorse parts of his stalled labor reform.
The high-profile lawyer Wilson Ruiz, previously Duque's Justice Minister, will lead the charge as the legal representative for the lawmakers choosing to confront the commander-in-chief. Ruiz, joined by attorney Manuel Villanueva, will initiate the legal battle on behalf of the Legislative Investigation and Prosecution Commission as reported by the local press El País.
The nine aggrieved lawmakers include Esperanza Andrade Serrano, Berenice Bedoya Pérez, Beatriz Lorena Ruiz Cuevas, Honorio Miguel Henríquez Pinedo, Josué Alirio Barrera, Miguel Ángel Pinto Hernández, Nadya Biel Scaff, Norma Hurtado Sánchez and Ana Paola Agudelo García, according to Semana.
Ruiz alleged that the President's speech included comments deemed threatening, such as "brandishing the flag of war to the death, a Bolivarian symbol justifying atrocities in the name of victory." If the Senate fails to approve the referendum, Ruiz warned that "the people will overthrow it." These remarks were delivered in an interview with Caracol Radio.
Ruiz further stated that the President's vitriolic rhetoric included direct attacks and insults on legislators, putting their safety at stake. Therefore, the afflicted lawmakers have chosen to present the complaint to both the Chamber of Representatives' Accusations Commission and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).
Ruiz declares that he'll thrust this case through every possible legal hoop. "The assault on the lawmakers is unacceptable. I'll go all the way to defend our democracy and our social state of law. If the president fails to reason, the courts will," Ruiz asserted on Caracol Radio.
Petro's speech, made amidst a sea of demonstrators in Bolívar Square, has ignited a massive political furor. The aggrieved lawmakers consider that the President's words not only constitute a threat, but also aim to pressure Congress to approve measures contradictory to democratic principles. The legal action intends to establish if the President's statements jeopardized the rights of legislators and violated the rules governing the exercise of power in a state of law.
The complaint lodged by the lawmakers could have wide-reaching effects on both national and international stages due to the IACHR's potential involvement. This human rights watchdog, responsible for safeguarding human rights in the continent, might evaluate whether the President's actions undercut democratic principles and the legislators' safety.
- Wilson Ruiz, the former Justice Minister under Duque, has announced a legal battle against President Gustavo Petro for his "bullying tone" during a speech that allegedly threatened Congress members and incited a "war-and-conflicts" mentality.
- The Legislative Investigation and Prosecution Commission, represented by Ruiz and Manuel Villanueva, plans to address this issue with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), as part of their policy-and-legislation responsibilities in protecting the rights of legislators.
- The nine lawmakers who filed the complaint against Petro include Esperanza Andrade Serrano, Berenice Bedoya Pérez, Beatriz Lorena Ruiz Cuevas, Honorio Miguel Henríquez Pinedo, Josué Alirio Barrera, Miguel Ángel Pinto Hernández, Nadya Biel Scaff, Norma Hurtado Sánchez, and Ana Paola Agudelo García.
- The general-news media outlets El País and Semana have reported on this issue, emphasizing the politically charged atmosphere sparked by Petro's speech during the International Workers' Day demonstrations, where he urged the adoption of his labor reform through a referendum.
- Ruiz's statement on Whatsapp emphasized the gravity of the situation, insisting that the President's vitriolic rhetoric not only undermines democratic principles but also puts politicians' safety at stake, further fueling the ongoing debate in the Bolivarian país.
