Gustavo Petro speaks during the delivery of the report of the Truth Commission, on June 28, in Bogotá.NATHALIA ANGARITA (Bloomberg)
If there was any doubt that political parties in Colombia do not represent any ideal, fortunately Gustavo Petro was elected as president to demonstrate it or, at least, expose it.
These fifteen days after the election have been perfect to put in black and white the reality of a policy that is only mediated by bureaucratic and patronage interests, rather than by the well-being of Colombians or the dream of an ideal country.
The most vulgar of the examples has been given by the Conservative Party, from which one would expect a strong and powerful opposition to the progressive proposals of the Petrista government.
Not in vain, since its foundation in 1849, this party has always represented the defense of private property, the defense of the principles of the Catholic Church, unrestricted support for the Armed Forces and the promotion of the most reactionary sectors of society.
In other words, the opposite of what Petro represents for Colombia and the world today.
What is the Conservative Party doing in negotiations and agreements with the new president?
Surely it will not be defending the anti-LGBT ideas of the Catholic Church.
Nor do I think it is to stop the new government in its efforts to restore civilian status to the Police.
Much less do I see them becoming champions of the agrarian reform that Petro has said since the campaign is finally going to be done.
Conservatives do not defend principles.
They defend the fiefdoms of a few leaders who have filled their pockets and their political wealth thanks to the open arms that previous governments have always had for them.
But conservatives are not alone.
Already the Liberal Party, which in the first round accompanied the candidate opposed to Petro, Federico Gutiérrez, has appeared to say that he will be accompanying the political proposal of the new president.
The Party of La U, which during the Duque government acted as a member of the government coalition, will now also accompany Petro.
And so Colombia goes, gradually setting up a congress that seems in unison to want to shout YES to everything the new government says.
And it is not that it is bad that there is such unanimity around the new government that is generating so much enthusiasm in a very important portion of the country.
What is wrong is that there are not those who with forcefulness and poise want to become a counterweight to what seems to be a legislative and political steamroller.
For a democracy, it is healthy for power to come and go between different visions of the country and for these to be represented by authorized voices inside and outside the political scene.
It's healthy that a government doesn't feel free to do whatever it wants because what starts out as a tropical cyclone can end up as a hurricane.
Colombia urgently needs a conscious opposition.
An opposition that goes beyond posh phrases and shouting that set fire to the verb, but do not build a future.
Colombia seeks opposition to a government that gives hope to many, but fills others with insecurities and uncertainty.
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