Colombia Opposition Holds First Major Protests Against De la Espriella Government
Colombia is holding its first major day of protests against President Abelardo De la Espriella’s government this Wednesday, Oct. 14, with unions, social organizations, teachers and left-wing groups mobilizing to express their opposition to the administration’s initial decisions. The protests will test the mobilization capacity of an opposition that lost power just over two months […]
Colombian opposition staged its first major protest today, challenging President Abelardo De la Espriella's government over a new decree regulating protests. The demonstrations, which took place on October 14, were led by the Central Unitary Workers' Union (CUT), the Colombian Federation of Educators (Fecode), and the Historic Pact, a political coalition headed by former President Gustavo Petro.
The protests were organized in response to Decree 1525 of 2026, which altered rules governing police conduct during protests. The opposition argues that the decree expands police use of force, restricts dialogue, and increases the potential for criminalizing peaceful demonstrators. The protests coincide with the beginning of the administration's rule, with former President Petro criticizing the government for prioritizing foreign business interests over the living wage.
Written by urgent.news from Colombia One's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
