Gustavo Petro ordered the sword of Simón Bolívar to be brought to the Plaza de Bolívar in Bogotá in his first order after taking office as president of Colombia. The sword has a special symbolism due to Petro’s former militancy in the M-19.
The sword of the Latin American independence leader was not in the place by express order of the outgoing president, Iván Duque, who did not allow his transfer.
“As President of the Republic I order Casa Militar to bring the sword of Bolívar to the Plaza de Bolívar“, were the first words of the new president, before swearing in the new vice president, Francia Márquez.
The controversy began early this Sunday, when Petro’s press office reported that Duque had decided not to allow the transfer of the sword despite the fact that the organizers of the act of possession had managed the corresponding permits before the Ministry of Culture, the National Museum and the Quinta de Bolívar.
The sword is a historical piece that has great symbolic value for President Gustavo Petro, since it was the one stolen by the M-19 guerrilla, to which Petro himself belonged, as the first act of insurgency. When the group reached a peace agreement with the government of Virgilio Barco, the sword was returned and transferred to the Quinta de Bolívar.
President Duque showed it to Petro when they met after his victory in the presidential elections and at that moment Petro told Duque his intention that the sword be used as a symbolic element during the acts of possession.
Petro’s communications team also said prevented the transfer of the sculpture of Peace by Fernando Boterowhich had been requested to preside over the parade and military honors.
Petro has taken the oath before the president of Congress, Roy Barreras, and it has been Senator María José Pizarro, daughter of the assassinated leader of the M-19, Carlos Pizarro, who has imposed the presidential sash on him.
The swearing-in took place amid the chants of “Yes, we could” from the thousands of supporters who filled the Plaza de Bolívar in Bogotá.
Information: Europe Press. Photos: Reuters.