The Elliptical Hall of Congress became a combat ring that had President Iván Duque as opening act. The president, who will leave power in 17 exact days, went to the Capitol to install the Legislature for the period 2022-2026 and – while delivering his speech – unleashed a confrontation between opponents and supporters, who clashed with banners and harangues.
Duque made his last speech in Congress as acting president and the 41 minutes that his speech lasted passed in a tense atmosphere. Taking stock of his four years in office, unrest was unleashed in the progressive caucus who branded him a “liar” and in the face of this apparent attempt at sabotage, the congressmen sympathetic to the president responded with applause and shouts.
In this context, the outgoing president installed the new Congress, which has 181 new legislators and 295 repeat ones, and whose first day became romantic not only because of the collective and internal fights, but also because of particularities such as the sample of marijuana products by a congressman, the arrival of another in heels and even the appearance of a dog brought by a legislator.
Congress adverse to Duque
The Congress from which the outgoing president said goodbye this Wednesday is totally the opposite of the one that received him four years ago. The legislative scenario changed starting with the reality of Duque’s party, the Democratic Center, which went from being the most robust and powerful in 2018 to being the only one in 2022 that declared itself in opposition to the government of the elected president, Gustavo Petro.
Although Duque was scheduled to arrive at the Capitol around 3:00 pm, his arrival was recorded at 4:50 pm following participating in the military and police parade on July 20. The President arrived at the Congress accompanied by a delegation that included the first lady, María Juliana Ruiz; Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez; the chief of staff, María Paula Correa, and the outgoing commander of the National Army, General Eduardo Enrique Zapateiro.
The president was received with an exhibition of banners with photos of assassinated social leaders –such as Temístocles Machado– and messages regarding peace, hunger and feminism. Those who raised them were the congressmen of the Historical Pact, Alianza Verde and Comunes, of whom it was rumored in the prelude to this event that they would protest showing these images.
Already in the speech, the spirits heated up when Duque spoke regarding the management of his government in terms of peace. “This is the unwavering commitment to peace with legality,” he noted. This phrase unleashed the first annoyance of his opponents, who shouted “liar” at him in a sheaf.
That was not the only interruption to the president’s intervention, since he later referred to rural policies and, by speaking of “expropriation”, unleashed the anger of Petrismo. “It was shown that social justice can be done in the countryside without the need for expropriations or prejudice,” said Duque.
There was a call to order
Such was the disorder that was generated that the outgoing president of Congress, Juan Diego Gómez, called for order and asked Senator Inti Asprilla for respect, who was seen moved by the shouts of his bench while the president gave his speech .
“Senator (Asprilla), I ask you to speak when it is the space of the opposition. Excuse me, president. Excuse me, if that’s the way you have it, I ask the security of Congress to be in charge of providing order,” Gómez claimed.
This situation generated discomfort in the sector of the Democratic Center that supports Duque. Congressmen Paola Holguín and Juan Espinal, who complained regarding the harangues once morest the president, demanded respect and displayed their own banners. The one who did not object was María Fernanda Cabal, whom she was seen distracted during Duque’s speech, to which she has publicly criticized.
Another congressman who drew attention in the midst of the discord was Rodolfo Hernández, who, despite sympathizing with Petro, did not want to raise a banner, but did not applaud Duque either. During the president’s speech, the former presidential candidate looked serious and, following the fight, he tweeted: “A corraleja has more order than the opening session of the Senate, poor my country.”
After being booed at least four times, but also given standing applause on a similar number of occasions, Duque concluded his speech by wishing Petro success and then left the Capitol. Thus, he avoided the speech of the opposition, which was in charge of Julián Gallo, although accusing sound problems he had to move it to the end of the Senate plenary. This was atypical.
After igniting the spirits of Congress, Duque concluded the day by returning to the Casa de Nariño through the extensive red carpet that connected with the Capitol, and in the Presidential Palace he was received with applause by members of his cabinet and high-ranking military officers. There the scenario was more favorable.
After Duque’s departure, a curious fact was recorded in the Chamber, which might not meet and postponed the integration of its board of directors for one day, in the absence of accepting a resignation. The decision to postpone the election was made because the full Congress did not approve the resignation of the magistrate of the National Electoral Council, Jaime Lacouture, who aspires to be the new secretary general of the Chamber. The Senate, without mishap, elected Roy Barreras as president, with 95 votes.
Dissidence within the Covenant
In the middle of the installation day, several particular events were recorded. The one that caught the most attention was the internal fight that persists in the Historical Pact. The first to air it was Senator Gustavo Bolívar, who made it clear that he would not vote for Roy Barreras – from his caucus – for president of the Senate, because he believes that he does not represent the change that the Pact promises.
In addition, Barreras was seen arguing with Senator Alexánder López, another of the Historical Pact, with whom he is also at odds over the bid to preside over the Senate.
Other particular events that were recorded were the arrival of representative Andrés Cancimance in high heels claiming for the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community, and the sighting of a dog called Comet, the pet of Senator Esmeralda Hernández.
181
new congressmen have the Congress that took office this Wednesday, July 20.
