A group of former ministers, intellectuals, and academics has made public a document titled “Manifiesto 4 del Centro Político: La Constitución: Escudo de Colombia”, which questions several trends and measures of the government of Abelardo De la Espriella.
The criticisms are organized into four areas of the current administration: the so-called “cultural war”, the exercise of presidential power, the government’s relationship with the press, and the freedom of unions and guilds.
One part of the document criticizes decisions related to gender and religion, such as reversing the appointment of a homosexual person to a high position despite their professional credentials, combating “gender ideology”, and using religion for political purposes.
The signers also express concern about the way power is exercised from the Presidency, which they believe can lead to an authoritarian government.
Among the signers are Alejandro Gaviria, Cecilia López Montaño, José Antonio Ocampo, Juan Daniel Oviedo, Cecilia María Vélez, Moisés Wasserman, and Humberto de la Calle, who have held high positions in different governments, as well as other intellectuals, youth organizations, and representatives of civil society.
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The document warns of a possible deterioration of the constitutional principles of 1991 as a consequence of the deepening of a “cultural war”, restrictions on government communication policy, and what they consider pressures on different institutions.
The analysts also express concern about the recurrent use of religious discourse, as well as decisions that, they claim, can limit the free development of personality and impose closed ideological visions in public education.
Another point highlighted is the concentration of the presidential spokesperson and the possible weakening of the technical autonomy of entities such as the Dane. The signers express concern about the concentration of power.
Ante este escenario, el grupo hizo un llamado a defender las garantías democráticas, la pluralidad y la transparencia, al tiempo que expresó su preocupación por lo que considera tendencias autoritarias en el ejercicio del poder.*Con información de Colprensa
