President Gustavo Petro exposes a U.S.-supported far-right coup attempt against his progressive government and calls for a popular consultation on labor and social reforms as essential steps toward peace and justice in Colombia.

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Petro Unveils U.S.-Backed Far-Right Coup Attempt Targeting Colombia

On June 11, 2025, President Gustavo Petro addressed the people of Cali, Valle del Cauca, denouncing a conspiracy orchestrated by far-right Colombian factions in coordination with U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and extremist elements. This plot aims to destabilize his government and reverse the social advances achieved under his leadership.

“I have shared recordings with the Attorney General exposing far-right leaders linked to drug trafficking and plotting a coup,” Petro declared, demanding these be made public in U.S. media to expose foreign interference undermining Colombia’s sovereignty.

Petro urged Colombians to reject fascism and emphasized that the Popular Consultation is not an ally of assassins, but that social inequality is. “The consultation is not a friend of the assassins; social inequality is the friend of the assassins,” he stated, highlighting how entrenched inequality fuels violence and instability.

Popular Consultation: A Democratic Path to Social Justice and Peace

In the same speech, Petro reaffirmed the urgent need for a Popular Consultation on labor and social reforms, following legislative obstruction that has blocked the constitutional mandate to establish a comprehensive labor statute.

¿Por qué la Consulta Popular? Es absolutamente necesaria porque primero: ha contado con el apoyo del mundo, intelectual y político; segundo: La OIT ha apoyado la reforma pensional, dice que es justa, válida y que sería un progreso de la humanidad; tercero, porque la Constitución… pic.twitter.com/d6DRQgkiMh

— Presidencia Colombia 🇨🇴 (@infopresidencia) June 12, 2025

The text reads: Why the Popular Consultation? It is absolutely necessary because, first: it has counted on the support of the intellectual and political world; second: the International Labour Organization (ILO) has supported the pension reform, stating that it is fair, valid, and would represent progress for humanity; third, because the 1991 Constitution proposed a Social Rule of Law State. This is what President @PetroGustavo said from Cali.

“Since 1991, the Constitution has ordered the creation of a labor statute that still does not exist in law,” Petro reminded, framing this as essential to building a social state under the rule of law and achieving true social justice.

“The peace of Colombia cannot be separated from social justice,” he declared, stressing that Colombia cannot achieve peace while remaining the third most unequal country in the world. Petro emphasized that his presidency was elected to bring peace and social justice, and that without addressing inequality, peace will remain elusive.

The Popular Consultation will allow citizens to directly express their will on key reforms such as establishing an eight-hour workday ending at 6 p.m., guaranteeing dignified wages and pensions for all workers,and protecting the rights of young and informal workers.

Linking Social Justice to Lasting Peace and National Stability

Petro connected the dots between social inequality, violence, and political instability, arguing that cuts to education and social programs have contributed to youth violence and social unrest. He called for policies that enable families to thrive, stating that empowering mothers to raise their children with love is the best security policy for Colombia’s cities.

He condemned those who have prevented the implementation of the constitutional labor statute and called on all Colombians to unite in defense of justice and dignity.

"El Presidente no ha hecho más que cumplir lo que se le presentó a Colombia como programa: reformar el sistema pensional para hacerlo universal, reformar el sistema de salud para que no se roben la plata pública, reformar el sistema laboral para que la gente que trabaja tenga un… pic.twitter.com/v9dtqU1egd

— Presidencia Colombia 🇨🇴 (@infopresidencia) June 12, 2025

The text reads: The President has done nothing more than fulfill what was presented to Colombia as a program: to reform the pension system to make it universal, reform the health system so that public money is not stolen, reform the labor system so that working people have a better life, build social justice, dedicate public funds to public education, and try to prevent Colombians from killing each other and to replace illicit economies with legitimate ones.

President Gustavo Petro’s dual message, exposing a U.S.-backed coup plot and advancing a Popular Consultation,reflects the critical crossroads Colombia faces in its quest for democracy, peace, and social equity. As the nation prepares to vote, the Popular Consultation stands as a vital instrument for the people to reclaim their constitutional rights and demand the social justice necessary for lasting peace.

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