Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Colombia’s main cities this weekend to protest the government’s tax reform bill Gustavo Petro’s leftist, international agencies report. The trigger for the demonstrations is the forecast of an increase in taxes paid by the middle class. In addition to the capital, Bogotá, acts were recorded in the streets of Cali, Barranquilla, Medellín, among other cities.
The worsening economic situation in Colombia is also identified as a reason for the revolts. The country faces the effects of global inflation and a historic devaluation of the local currency against the dollar. Unemployment reached , 6% of the economically active population.
Petro, who assumed the presidency a few months ago, won a fierce election with statist proposals and protectionist, which includes significant fiscal change, reduction in oil exploration and agrarian reform.
