Colombia's Petro refuses military sites for president-elect's inauguration

Outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro has firmly stated he will not permit any military installations to be used for the inauguration of President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella. Petro declared on Friday that neither the Army, Navy, nor National Police should prepare any space within military facilities for civilian inaugurations.

Petro's stance directly challenges De la Espriella's stated intention to hold his swearing-in ceremony at a military garrison in Popayán, the capital of the Cauca department. This move by De la Espriella was intended as a tribute to the armed forces.

The Colombian Senate recently approved, by a vote of 55 to 32, the proposal to hold the presidential inauguration outside of Bogotá. However, the exact location is still pending a final decision. This decision to potentially move the ceremony marks the first time it would occur outside the traditional setting of the Capitol building, in a region heavily impacted by armed conflict and the presence of illegal groups.

Petro, who will remain supreme commander of the military until his final day in office, reiterated his refusal to authorize the use of military sites for the inauguration. He made these remarks during an official event where he returned the sword of Simón Bolívar, the Liberator, to the Casa Museo Quinta de Bolívar in Bogotá. Petro emphasized that Bolívar's sword symbolizes freedom and democracy and should not serve fascism but the Republic.