In Colombia, it continues to be confirmed that only the people save the people.
The new president of the Republic and his Government are unable to grasp the gravity of the earthquake or know how to deal with it. In barely a week in office, the homeland survives thanks to civil society and its solidarity and not through the mediation of any saint or prophet wearing a presidential sash.
The presidency’s Noah’s ark is filling up with species of the “nevers” who have not suffered a single setback in their lives, beyond managing their wealth and egos, let alone a flood or an earthquake like the one that affected the country on August 10.
Some will say what bad luck for the new ruler, others that it is Petro’s fault, the most conspiratorial that it was provoked by the U.S. to have an excuse to intervene militarily –as if they needed one—.
But the reality is that the earthquake’s blow has been severe enough to warrant a serious, rapid, and effective response to address such an emergency. Instead, the illustrious president has devoted himself to lurching from one thing to another without clarity about what is needed and, worse still, without the slightest idea of how to do it.
Among his ´successes` this week:
Imposing a curfew in the city of Cali to prevent disturbances. During a health emergency any help is welcome, and prohibiting movement is condemning the affected people.
Greeting a certain audience with smiles and kisses at an official appearance after the earthquake, instead of giving the answers that the country and its citizens expect.
Including departments not affected by the earthquake in his disaster declaration decree (something that could serve as a covert ´justification` for foreign intervention).
Not accepting some offers of international aid or doing so late.
Giving the impression of being more concerned about the condition of the structure of Manizales cathedral, affected by the earthquake, than about the lives that have been lost.
Creating the miracle fund, as if everything were in the hands of providence and not human action in the face of disaster, washing his hands a little with the excuse of the level of debt left by the previous government.
Not having carried out the handover with the previous risk management team in a timely and proper manner, officially appointing the new head of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) through decree 1170 of August 11, 2026 –one day after the earthquake. Of the new director of the UNGRD, the government’s figurehead has said: “He is a man with every condition, every quality and all the honesty to come and clean out that nest of bandits that took over that institution and to carry out the mission that corresponds”. Late, badly done and doing nothing but looking for enemies.
Something that has even been pointed out by The Economist magazine, a serious publication and hardly suspected of being socialist, by stating that the president “is paying the consequences of his senseless refusal to cooperate with the handover process initiated by the previous government”. And highlighting that “the result is that the new government lacks the information and capabilities it urgently needs. Without them, the new Executive is forced to act mainly through local governments. This works, although with difficulty, in more prosperous places such as the coffee-growing regions and Valle del Cauca”.
Furthermore, and to finish (for now), in the international sphere he has taken advantage of the catastrophic situation to, for example, recognize the legitimacy of a genocidal country over a territory that does not belong to it or to once again allow the use of Colombian territory by the gringo military forces.
So there you have it, neither miracle homeland nor Noah’s ark. This will not be fixed by praying or by ´saving` only ´protected` species aboard his vessel. Solidarity with Colombia and with Colombians of all classes and from all territories.
Do not forget Gaza or Cuba.
