Former President Andrés Pastrana did not hesitate to respond strongly to the statements of Gustavo Petro, who referred to the election victory of José Antonio Kast in Chile. In his speech, the Colombian president linked this victory to what he saw as a threat to democracy and the principles of social justice in Latin America and expressed concern about the rise of conservative ideologies in the region.
The Colombian president was not sparing in his criticism of Chile’s elected president and expressed concern about what he sees as a growing conservative wave in Latin America.
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Petro compared Kast’s victory to a hypothetical victory of figures such as María Fernanda Cabal (Democratic centrist senator) or Rodolfo Hernández (former presidential candidate accused of corruption and now deceased) in Colombia. in reference to what he sees as a retreat of democratic and progressive ideals in the region.
In addition, in a direct message to young Chileans, Petro emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of Pablo Neruda, the famous Chilean poet who, according to him, represents the values of social struggle in Latin America.
“I hope that the Chilean youth will take care of Neruda’s grave,” Petro wrote, recalling a personal experience he had during a visit to Chile. On this occasion, the President recounted how, near Neruda’s tomb and overlooking the sea, he felt reconnected with the ideals of the Left.
“At Neruda’s words and near his grave I was happy and the night was full of stars. I did not feel abandoned.” The Colombian President assured and indicated that the ideals of the Left are still alive despite the current political difficulties.
Petro also dedicated a space in his lengthy message to the memory of the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, alluding to the atrocities committed during this period of dictatorship and warning that fascism in Chile would not last as in other times.
“Fascism in Chile will not last 40 years. These are different times,” he stressed, suggesting that the current political and social conditions in the region are different from those of the military dictatorship that ruled the country between 1973 and 1990.
However, Petro’s statements were not well received by everyone. Andrés Pastrana, former president of Colombia and one of the most prominent figures in Colombian politics, responded with a strong message through his social networks. The former head of state completely rejected Petro’s comments, calling them “inappropriate and irresponsible.”
In his publication on the social network “They do not represent Colombians or the spirit of friendship and cooperation that both nations have fostered throughout their history.”
The former Colombian president made it clear that he did not share Petro’s vision regarding Kast and stressed the importance of maintaining a warm and respectful relationship between both countries. Pastrana, one of the most critical leaders of Petro’s policies, stressed that the Colombian president had crossed a line by interfering in Chile’s internal affairs in a way that he said was inappropriate.
Pastrana insisted that Petro’s words were not only incorrect in content, but also did not reflect the feelings of Colombians or the spirit of brotherhood that has historically characterized relations between Colombia and Chile.
José Antonio Kast has won the second round of the 2025 presidential elections in Chile with a large margin of votes and is now the country’s elected president. Although the electoral process has already concluded, the countdown to his inauguration has already begun.
The change of command is scheduled for March 11, 2026, a date set in the constitution as the start of the president’s term. which this time falls on a Wednesday. In the remaining three months, Kast must form his cabinet, define key positions and form alliances in Congress to ensure the ability to govern and implement his reforms.
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