The Conservative Party more progressive than the Liberals: an analysis of Gustavo Petro's discourse

The Conservative Party is more progressive than the liberals, as stated by President Gustavo Petro during the installation of the Congress of the Republic, referring to Jorge Eliécer Gaitán's statement regarding conservative support for Law 200 of 1936, known as the land law. In this context, Petro highlighted the key participation of conservative jurist Guillermo Amaya Ramírez in the creation of said law, as well as the role of the National Front in the construction of peace in Colombia, an agreement between liberals and conservatives that ended the violence between the traditional parties. During his speech, the president defended his government's management by highlighting the reduction in food prices, the decrease in extreme poverty, and monetary poverty. Petro emphasized that many people have been lifted out of poverty, attributing these achievements to the increase in real wages for workers, despite criticism from experts. However, this discourse was overshadowed by the controversy surrounding his late arrival and unusual attire at the July 20 military parade. The president also mentioned the Keynesian revolution in the economy, emphasizing the recovery of hospitals and clinics through direct payment from ADRES. Although not all are convinced by his economic arguments, it is undeniable that the proposed approach deserves consideration. According to Ricardo Ávila, a senior analyst at El Tiempo, while the reduction of poverty in Colombia is positive, the country still has a long way to go compared to its peers in Latin America. In 1961, Álvaro Gómez advocated for agrarian reform within the framework of the National Front, emphasizing the need to implement the 1936 land law, which had never been effectively enforced. Gómez pointed out the importance of understanding the inequality in the country, which particularly affects women, the unemployed, individuals with low education levels, and large families. In this context, Gaitán considered conservatives to be more progressive than liberals, raising questions about the possibility of building a national agreement on fundamental issues, as currently proposed by President Petro. In summary, Gustavo Petro's speech in the Congress of the Republic has sparked controversy by comparing the progressive stance of conservatives with that of liberals in Colombian history. Despite advances in reducing poverty, there are still pending challenges in the country, especially in terms of inequality and agrarian reform. The president's call to build a national agreement on key issues raises questions about Colombia's political and social future.