On Wednesday, thousands of citizens gathered in cities across Colombia to protest against the policies of President Abelardo de la Espriella. The demonstrations, which were described as peaceful, represent the first major organized opposition effort since the president’s inauguration in August.

The rallies drew a diverse coalition of participants, including trade unionists, Indigenous groups, students, and feminist activists. A notable figure at the protests was former leftist President Gustavo Petro, who led a rally in the capital city of Bogota. While the protests were widespread, the specific policy grievances driving the participants were not detailed in the initial reports, focusing instead on the broad opposition to the current right-wing administration.

As this is the first major mobilization against the new government, political analysts are watching to see if these demonstrations signal a sustained period of civil unrest or if they remain isolated events. The administration has not yet issued a formal response to the scale or the specific demands of the protesters. The event highlights the ongoing political polarization in the country following the transition of power earlier this year.