The presidential transition was once again placed at the center of the political debate after the statements of the Minister of Defense, Pedro Sánchezwho insisted that the change of command will occur under the parameters established by the Constitution. His words came amid versions that in recent weeks, even from his own President of the Republic, Gustavo Petrohave fueled speculation about a possible lack of knowledge of the electoral results or possible scenarios of institutional breakdown.
In dialogue with EL TIEMPO, the head of the defense portfolio He indicated the reason for his statement during the accountability of his sector, on Thursday afternoon, in which he recognized that the elected president is Abelardo de la Espriella.
“I am not the one who recognizes a president. I am a public servant like defense minister and the only thing I abide by is the Constitution and the law. That recognition is constitutional and institutionalmade by electoral authorities“Sanchez told this newspaper.
The Minister of Defense Pedro Sánchez Suárez. Photo:Courtesy
With that precision, the minister recalled that the electoral authorities already They certified the election of Abelardo de la Espriella and that, consequently, “it will be the president from August 7However, he also established that “now the Current president is Dr. Gustavo Petro until August 6“, clearly differentiating the constitutional times of transition.
The statements acquire relevance because they are produced in an environment marked by versions about an assumption coup d’état or a possible ignorance of the electoral result. As the minister himself revealed, this issue was even addressed in a recent conversation with President Gustavo Petro. “He told me: ‘Why are they saying that there is a coup d’état, that we are going to stay here? What misinformation is there?’. I will never give a unconstitutional order“I have never given it,” Sánchez said.
The Minister of Defense, Pedro Sánchez, together with the leadership of the Public Force. Photo:Courtesy
That conversation led, as he explained, to new guidelines for the Defense sector. The purpose is to ensure that the presidential transition develop under security conditions for both the head of state and the president-elect and the other political actors.
“We have never received and obviously would never comply with a unconstitutional order. From there arose (from the meeting with the president) some orders that were also evaluated in a joint intelligence board, which is guarantee the security of the current president, the elected presidentof the former presidential candidate and of all Colombians, for this to occur transition in a very safe and calm manner“, held.
The message coincides with what, according to what this medium was able to establish, the high military and police command in meetings held with the defense minister during the last few days. The institutional position has been to remember that the actions of the Public Force is determined by the article 217 of the Political Constitution and for the obligation of protect the democratic orderwithout departing from the constitutional mandate during the change of government.
Pedro Sánchez, Minister of Defense. Photo:Courtesy
Along the same lines, Sánchez explained that the instructions given to the leadership are summarized in principle: preserve the institutional character of the Public Force and guarantee the continuity of constitutional command. “The Public Force follows the president’s instructionswhether the current one or, at the time, the president to take office on August 7”he explained.
The minister went further by insisting that the Institutional obedience is not linked to a person but to the position which represents the head of state. “People change, but the position remains, which is president of the republic. And it is the president who is followed by all instructions and not a person,” he pointed out.
Justice Editorial
Justicia@eltiempo.com
