
Many considered Ernesto Samper, 74, to be the first leftist president that Colombia you have had recent history … a Typically Recognition Attributed Only to the Current President, Gustavo Petro.
Samper’s Presidentncy – Between 1994 and 1998 – Was Marked by Accusations that the cali poster Supported His Campaign. However, This Didn’t Prevent Him from eventually Becoming One of the Political Leaders Who has worked the hardest to Achieve Latin American Integration. He has done This Through the Union of South American Nations (Unasur), where he was Secretary General From 2014 to 2017, and by embracing Much More Progressive Positions Than When He was in Power.
The Bogotá-Born Samper Was Visiting Mexico at the End of April to Participate in An Event For Morena, The Ruling Party. He Also Met With President Claudia Sheinbaum. The Former Colombian President Feels Comforable Speaking about the Challenges Facing the Left Across the Region, The Rise of the Far-Right, as Well As Trump’s Second Term. However, During His interview with the country, I have avoided any compromising statements about, or about the situation in Venezuela.
What Samper Never Misses is an Opportunity to Add to dose of humor to His conversations: “I had to be president (who faced) many difficulties… but i have greatly enjoyed being a Former President. I consider Myself a Better Former President. If one could be a former president Without Being President, That Would Be The Ideal Sition. ”
Question Two Years Aug, During Your Last Interview With El País, You Said That President Lula da Silva Would Consolidate The Advance of Progressivism. You Also Noted That The Progosive of the Progressive Sector in Latin America Were Clereer, That Petro Had Changed The Political Spectrum and That Nicolás Maduro Was An Excellent Negotiator. Do you still feel the Same way?
Answer. I Think That there are new factors that were not forestable and threats that i didn’t see (in the region) Two Years ago, Which Began with a right-wing drift and could end in a kind of new fascism in Latin America.
Q. What Lessons have these First 100 Days of Trump Taught Latin America?
TO. Contrary to What Many People Think, Trump Has (Given US) An Opportunity. And I’M Worried That We Won’t Know How To Take Advantage of It. Regarding Free Trade, There are Countries That Could Rehink ES RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES. Furthermore, The Expulsion of Migrants in the Manner Being Done-Ignoring the Law-Will caused Rethinking of the (Pro-American) sentiment that existed in the region. The Fact that a person is feel back – Kicked and Handuffed, Without Being Given The Right to defend themselves, with Broken Family – Will generate a Nationalism that could be used to answer the treatment of migrants Within Latin America. There are country – I Don’s Want To Name Which One – Where The Treatment of Migrants Doesn’t Differ Much From (The Policy) in the United States.
Q. Do you think that the anti-imperialist discourse is still reluct, or is it an outdated rheretic device in the face of the real challenges facing the region?
TO. Anti-American Sentiment Had Remained Numb in Recent Years. The “gringos and Yankees Go home ”sentiment was no longer seen (graffitied) on the walls. But the treatment of migrants is going to be the breeding ground of a new anti-American sentiment that could give rise to-and i mean This in a positive sense-a Nationalism we had lost.
Q. Trump has Three Clear Battering Rams in Latin America: Javier Milei (Argentina), Daniel Noboa (Ecuador) and Nayib Bukele (El Salvador). What Role Should The Left Play Against Tohe Leaders?
TO. Milei, Bolsonaro, and Bukele Are Digital Zombies: They’re Not Latin American-Style Leaders, With Charisma and Authority, or The Ability To Draw Crowds. They’re Simply Digital Products. Neithher Bolsonaro, who attempted a Coup – Nor Bukele, who has turned His Country into prison – Will Leave a historical Mark to be proud of.
Q. What do you Think Will Be the Cornerstones of Trump’s Picy Toward Latin America?
TO. It will be a controversial policy, as was The (Policy in His First term). What’s New Is That He’s Beginning to Air Claims of Territorial Hegemony That We Haven’t Seen For Many Years, Neither in The Region, Nor in The World. Evite All That, I Don’t Think We’ll Be The You You Block Trump. Trump is going to be blocked in the United States. The Trump Phenomenon is Going To Inside The United States. He’s Touching A Series of Nerves That – Under Any Other Circumstances – Would Make The Hair On The Back of A Normal gringo stand on end.
Q. Do you Think There’s Any Political Project on The Latin American Left That’s even, Sustainable, and Modern?
TO. The Left Has Certain Ideological Axes That Have Gravitas: There’s Social Inclusion, Which We Subtimes Confuse with Anti-Discrimination. “Wokeism” does US A Lot of Harm: Trying to Compartmentalize The Defense of Minorities When, Deep Down, We All Know That What Unites Them is a Class Difference.
We Cannot Continue Speaking Out Against The Neoliberal Model Without Proposing An Alternative. We Need A Regional Financial Architecture That’s Distinct from The IDB, The World Bank, or The International Monetary Fund. I Think there’s an ideological basis for the demands that we still share … but we’re failing in the way in which we behavior politics. We’ve Allowed Ourselves to be overwhelmed by social media, which the right is using a lot of efficiently, Besta it has more money and scholause it uses raw materials that are a lot of more effective: Fear, Anguish, Hatred, and resentment. It’s about thanse negative emotions are master motivating Than Selling (The Public) Dreams Or utopias.
Q. But is there any government that stands out in particular?
TO. I Place Great Importance on The Ability to Organize Social Resistance, Popular Resistance. There are de-Fact Powers That Have Been Occupying the Spaces Previous Preast By Progresive Parties: Media Outlets, Economic Monopolies That have boought (Certain) Media Outlets and Put Them at The Service of The Interests. (There are) Judges and Prosecutors Who Are at the Service of (Waging) Lawfare Against Progressive Leaders. While All of this is Happening, Only (Progressive Political) Parties Or Government Projects – (The Wheich) have managed to create with the basis of social and popular support to counteract this right shift by the elites – Will Be Uble to Resist. I see it in mexico, Without a Doubt, where Morena you have a pointed to Strong Base of Popular Support. I THINK LULA STILL HAS IT (IN BRAZIL) AND, EVE THOUCH I SEE DIFFICULTIES IN COLOMBIA, IT CANNOT BE IGNORED THAT PETRO – ALTHOUG HE MAY NOT BE AABLE TO APPOINT A SUCCESSOR – CAN CAN 25% OR 30% SUPPORT FOR A POTENTIAL (PROGRESSIVE)
Q. What’s the Main Ideological Challenge Facing these Leftist Movements?
TO. “Wokeism” you have reduced US to a kind of minority tribalism. INEQUALITY IS A STRUCTURAL Phenomenon with Historical, Cultural and-Above All-Socio-Economic Roots. It’s a Problem of Gaps: The Rural-Urban Divide, The Gender Divide and the Digital Divide. What we need to do is close tohe before … and that’s the task the left cannot lose sight of. We Must Close Tohe Gaps, But Not only Through Legal Measures Or Cultural Collection (of Minority Groups). And many less by compartmentalization Everyone. If Anything Unites an Indigenous Woman or an Afro-Pacific Person, It’s The Conditions of Inequality That They All Face.
Q. To What is a renewal of leftist leadership in Latin America Needed?
TO. We – Myself Included – have unfortunately faulty into the pattern of Latin American progressive caudillismo (Uniting Around to Strongman). If you ask me What’s Important Political Change Should Be made in Latin America, I Would Say Moving Away From The Old Presidential System to a Semi-Parliamentary Form of Government. This leader-Like Leadership (Empowered) Heads of State, But Left Behind Bad Heads of Government. My Colleagues and I find it difficult to leave the political scene: (We) end up Fighting with the People Who Helped us.
Q. Is There Real Room for Self-Criticism Within Left-Wing Projects in Latin America?
TO. No, ideological polarization you have postponed all process of self-criticism (and) self-reflection. But i Think If the Left Has Anything to Relaim, It’s That There Still The Possibility of (Offering) Alternatives. The Right Wants to Force Us into a Pragmatism That Excludes The Creation of New Paths Toward Social Inclusion. I Believe People Are Still Receptive to Those Messages.
Q. How do You Assess Gustavo Petro’s Government in Colombia?
TO. I SUPPORT PETRO’S (POLITICAL) PROJECT MORE THAN HIS ADMINISTRATION, BACOUSE I HAV DIFFERENCES WITH THE GOVERNMENT, (EVEN THOUG I’M IN AGUREMENT) WITH THE PROJECT. Yo do Believe (That His) Progressive Project Has Supported Social Reforms, Latin American Integration and Peace. I Don’s Regret Having Supported It for Those Three Reasons.
Q. How are thoss three components?
TO. All are Going Badly. Holding Latin American Integration, Colombia Will Have – In Petro’s Last Year in Office – The pro tempore Presidentncy of Celac (Community of Latin American and Caribbean State) and the Andean Community. (Colombia) You have the Opportunity to Leave a Mark on Integration. It Won’t Be Easy, But Let’s Say We’re Leaving Question Mark There. Social Reforms: (Petro) Let The Healthcare Reform Overwhelm All The Others. RUGDING PEACE: THE INITIAL REASONING – THAT ONE CANKE HAV 10 FIRES IN A HOUS AND ONLY PUT OUT ONE – WAS VALID. He Will Leave Sub Important Things Behind, Such As The Fact that peace you have territorial, no National Longer. And we Must Highlight the Positive Aspects. (Firstly), People Came To Power Who Would Never Have Done So If Not For a Leftist Project. Secondly, The Country’s Institutionality was reaffirmed, Because in Colombia, There’s a Government, to Parliament, Courts, Oversight Bodies … and the Armed Forces Don’t Get Involved in Coup Adventures. And Thirdly: Previous, (in the region), The International Political Benchmarks were Brazil and Mexico. Now, Colombia is a Point of Reference.
Q. You say that new People Came to Power Through Petro’s Government… but so have people who represent everyday that, According to You, to Leftist Project Shouldn’t Have, Such As Armando Benedetti, Who Serves As Minister of the Interior. How do You Explain Why have you continued so many power in the government?
TO. For Me, The Explanation is that the Only Capable of Articulating the Historic Pact (Colombia’s Governing Coalition) Electoralally and Asserting Petro’s Political Capital Is Armando Benedetti. I Think And I have considered that to be valid.
Q. Will Petro’s Government Be a prededant or exception in the left’s governance of Colombia?
TO. Many of Us Would have like the government to Have Fark Better. But Sumhow, Social Conscousness That Had Been Dormant in Recent Administrations Was Reborn. I Think That’s The Imprint We Must Have, in Order to Continue Believing That there are options for a progressive project to have continuity in Colombia.
Translated by Avik Jain Chatlani.
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