Original article: “Bolívar vuelve a morir”: Petro veta uso de cuarteles militares para posesión presidencial y denuncia quiebre de soberanía

Petro Prohibits Military Barracks for Presidential Inauguration, Claims Sovereignty Breach

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has decided to ban the use of military barracks for the presidential inauguration ceremony conducted by Abelardo De la Espriella, citing external interference that he claims compromised the nation’s sovereignty during the recent elections.

«National sovereignty has been undermined by foreigners who usurped the people’s right to choose freely,» Petro noted, asserting that he possesses evidence of fraud during the runoff elections.

In a post shared on his account on social media platform X, he indicated that these actions taint the legacy of Simón Bolívar, the revolutionary leader who from 1819 to 1830 led campaigns that resulted in the independence of several nations, including present-day Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela.

«Bolívar returns to die,» he declared.

Petro reminded the public that he will serve as the supreme commander of the Armed Forces until August 7, the date on which De la Espriella will officially assume the presidency of Colombia.

«Military and police barracks will remain under my command until my successor is inaugurated,» the president stated, insisting that, using his constitutional and legal powers, he ordered that no military establishment be utilized for the presidential inauguration of the far-right candidate, who asked the new Congress, set to convene on July 20, for permission to hold the inauguration at a military base.

«In exercising my constitutional and legal powers, I order that no military establishment be used for the inauguration of a president of the Republic of Colombia,» he asserted.

«As I said, amidst the glittering facade of a new government not voted for by the majority of the people, the law states where Congress meets, and it is in a congressional session that the new president must be inaugurated, just as I did and all others before me,» emphasized the Colombian leader.

In his message, he also addressed De la Espriella’s decision not to shake hands during the presidential transition ceremony, asserting that although he views that gesture as a sign of political distance, he will continue to respect constitutional norms.

«That Abelardo doesn’t shake my hand is somewhat flattering, but I obey the laws of the 1991 Constitution,» he indicated.

«The President is Inaugurated Before Congress in Full Session»

The progressive leader made it clear that as long as he remains in office, he is still the supreme commander of the Armed Forces and the National Police, meaning that members of the security forces must operate under the current president’s directives until the new president is sworn in.

«Military and police barracks are under my command until the new president takes the oath, and thus until that moment, I am the supreme commander of the armed forces. No officer salutes a civilian unless they are their supreme commander,» Petro noted.

He reaffirmed that the transfer of command must be carried out in strict compliance with the laws of the Republic and the Constitution, which stipulate that the new president of Colombia must be inaugurated before Congress in full session.

Furthermore, he pointed out that military barracks are designated for national security and defense operations, not legislative or political activities.

«No laws are made in military installations; they are for security actions and the defense of the people and their lives,» he emphasized.

In his message, the progressive leader also announced the return of Simón Bolívar’s sword of battle to its historical location and announced the addition of new portraits to the presidential corridor.

He explained that the portraits of the black president Carlos Nieto and the indigenous president, supreme general of the Liberating Army, in 1854, José María Melo y Ortiz, who he referred to as liberators of slaves, will be included in the space reserved for images of Colombia’s leaders.