The Workers' Unitary Central (CUT) has expressed its frontal rejection of the upcoming Executive of the far-right Abelardo de la Espriella, winner of the presidential elections in Colombia by a narrow margin, considering that it will be "fascist" and "neoliberal" and will be "driven by hatred and persecution of the adversary."
In a statement, the CUT warns that the new Government will be "subservient to external interests and will be prone to interference." "It will lean towards making excessive use of force to achieve political objectives," laments the organization, which declares its "complete opposition."
While the Registrar's Office of Colombia completes the detailed scrutiny, which must be ratified by judges before proclaiming the official results, the union, one of the most representative in the country, warns that De la Espriella's mandate will be marked by "open, blatant, and unacceptable US interference in the internal affairs" of Colombia.
"This derives from the support that, during the electoral campaign, the President of the United States (Donald Trump) gave to Abelardo de la Espriella and from the proposals that are now being put forward for Colombia to join the so-called Shield of the Americas, a project aimed at re-establishing the subordination of Latin America and the Caribbean to the geopolitical interests of the United States," the CUT denounces in its note.
The union central also maintains that the political action of the next Government will be characterized by "the stigmatization and open persecution against those who oppose its postulates and decisions," in reference to the candidate's own rhetoric, who has repeatedly promised to eliminate his political adversaries.
"This refers to painful episodes in our recent history, such as the 7,837 false positives that occurred during the Government of Álvaro Uribe, as well as the repressive response of the Government of Iván Duque to the social unrest, which left about 86 people murdered, hundreds injured, and more than 100 young people with permanent eye injuries," the statement reads.
"This policy of stigmatization is already being announced by Mr. Abelardo De la Espriella against trade unionism, Fecode, journalists, and other social and political sectors. In a phrase: gut the left and persecute the opposition, characteristic features of fascism," the organization adds.
The CUT maintains that the program embodied by the president-elect responds to a "neoliberal orthodoxy that has failed both internationally and nationally". "This will lead to an increase in inequality, unemployment, and poverty," it warns, underscoring that De la Espriella's figure "represents the complete opposite of what Gustavo Petro's Government embodies."
"We are against the fascist and neoliberal government of Abelardo De la Espriella. Consequently, the Central makes itself available for the joint construction with the other political, social, union, and popular forces of a broad Broad Front for Life, capable of articulating efforts and strengthening the defense of peace, dignified life, democracy, and national sovereignty," concludes the labor central.