2023-12-30 07:00:00
Throughout 2023, representatives Catherine Juvinao, Katherine Miranda and Jennifer Pedraza confirmed – bravely and in the midst of increasingly aggressive attacks – that thinking differently and assuming critical and dissonant positions in Colombia (and in politics in general) ) still involves paying a very high price.
Their observations, analyzes and warnings regarding the reforms of Gustavo Petro’s government, beyond generating admiration, cost them attacks from all fronts. He also reminded them that, even in times of the aforementioned “change”, accusations and attacks persist – with a hint of machismo – against those who dare to think differently and leave the fold.
Without intending to, even though they were from different political shores – despite the fact that Juvinao and Miranda are part of the Green Alliance, while Pedraza comes from Dignidad, the movement of Jorge Robledo and Sergio Fajardo – the three ended up forming a female bloc that knew put a stop to the Government’s claims and vindicate its independence in favor of the interests of the majorities.
The country owes them the collapse of the Petro government’s controversial political reform last March, to which all kinds of monkeys were attached and which meant juicy benefits for parliamentarians. They were the first to notice it and, upon finding common ground, they ended up championing the same cause and uniting to form a bloc to which they gradually gained followers.
However, it was the objections to the health reform that gave consistency to the bloc and allowed them to consolidate themselves in the public opinion as congressmen who – even belonging to the government bench (in the case of Miranda and Juvinao) – knew how to mark distance and warn of the failures and risks of some projects.
Pedraza came to the public spotlight due to his student activism, particularly his defense of public education. Due to this work, in 2022 he won a seat representing Bogotá after achieving 22,809 votes. Although he considers himself to be on the left, he has not stopped raising objections and criticisms of the “government of change.” His work focuses, in addition to the defense of public education, on decent employment and youth.
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