The ELN and the Petro Government reconcile after another threat by the guerrilla to torpedo the process

After several days of expectation there has been white smoke.

The ELN and Petro's Government have once again reconciled and put the peace process on track after another attempt by the guerrilla to call into question negotiations that are moving steadily forward, but which often encounter curveballs.

On most occasions they occur due to the feeling of the guerrilla leaders that they are not respected enough, but then the infinite patience of Petro's envoys always comes into play, personified in a man with a Franciscan attitude like Senator Iván Cepeda.

Thus, it is repeated that the parties return to the table and continue talking with the intention that this armed group that has been up in arms for decades opts for the democratic route and becomes a political party.

Five previous presidents have tried, but the ELN has never had a former guerrilla like Petro on the other side of the table, who is especially sensitive to the reasons that lead someone to pick up a rifle.

The negotiators released a joint statement this Monday in which they assure that this ends the meeting that took place in Havana, between February 24 and 26, and that they plan to meet again in Caracas, Venezuela, between the 8th. and April 22.

The Chavista Government has been a mediator from day one and has put a lot of effort into making the process go ahead.

However, in the last month it has deployed a repressive policy, on the eve of the date of the presidential elections being decided, which has once again questioned its intention to begin the path towards full democracy, as it had hinted in the agreements of Barbados.

The United States lifted some of the sanctions on oil and gold in the hope that Chavismo would organize fair and competitive elections where the opposition, embodied in the figure of María Corina Machado, would have a real chance of victory.

A couple of weeks of regression have been enough for it to be clear that none of that is going to happen.

Oblivious to this noise, the guerrillas and the Government agree that progress is being made.

That does not mean that the ELN delegation, led by the historic guerrilla Pablo Beltrán, does not comply with the internal consultation to which it was called.

Five days ago, the guerrilla unexpectedly announced on social networks that the process was “in crisis” due to regional dialogues in Nariño, an area with a strong presence of armed groups and coca crops, in which they had felt excluded. .

This occurred when shortly before it had been agreed to extend the ceasefire for another 180 days and create a fund with contributions from different international institutions and organizations to be able to implement the peace agreements.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly when the guerrillas seemed offended and put the dialogue on a kind of pause.

Petro wants to close this peace dialogue within a year, which would be an obvious success.

It would reinforce his narrative of total peace that he has championed since he came to power.

However, there are those who think that this negotiation will exceed this presidential term, which has two years left, and that it will be the next president who sits down to sign the final agreement.

At this point it's hard to know.

For this, Petro has counted on experienced people such as Cepeda himself, Senator María José Pizarro and the new chief negotiator, the veteran Vera Grabe.

One step above, Otty Patiño, another ex-guerrilla with bomb-proof patience.

Even so, the ELN, accustomed to the suspended times of the jungle, has its own biological clock.

Balancing the needs of one and the other will be key to taking the negotiation to a safe place, where there is no turning back.

Petro, who does not have many achievements to boast about right now, politically needs an agreement.

And soon, if possible.

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