Hundreds march towards Colombian President Petro’s tax reform By Reuters

BOGOTA (Reuters) – Hundreds of protesters marched on Monday towards financial and social reforms proposed by Colombian leftist President Gustavo Petro – which he says will struggle inequality – simply 50 days after he took workplace.

Petro, 62, has promised to hunt “whole peace” by means of offers with insurgent teams and crime gangs and requested lawmakers to approve a tax reform which might increase an preliminary $5.6 billion for social applications subsequent 12 months.

The reform would increase taxes on these incomes greater than $2,259 per 30 days, about 10 instances the minimal wage, and get rid of exemptions.

Petro has constructed a majority in congress by means of alliances with a spread of events. Proper-wing get together the Democratic Middle, headed by former President Alvaro Uribe, has led a lot of the opposition to his proposals.

Some 5,000 folks, many waving indicators with slogans like “no to the tax reform”, marched in Bogota, based on the mayor’s workplace.

Some marchers in contrast Petro’s governance up to now to authoritarianism and stated objections to his administration would mount.

“Mr. Petro you’re unsuitable in your manner of governing,” stated info expertise employee James Duque.

Petro has additionally proposed modifications to healthcare, a land reform which might promote properties to poor farmers at below-market charges and reforms to voting.

“It is hurting my pension, it is hurting my healthcare, it is hurting non-public property, we have to respect households,” stated protester Francisco Arias in Bogota’s central Plaza Bolivar.

Peaceable marches additionally occurred in Medellin, Cali, Armenia and Villavicencio.

Petro stated in a tweet he revered protesters’ proper to specific themselves however that his authorities additionally had a proper to fight misinformation.