Rising gasoline prices angered the public: they took to the streets

Hundreds of people gathered in various cities in Colombia to protest the recent increase in fuel prices.

Transporter and driver unionists, who closed the main streets of the cities of Medellín, Bucaramanga and Floridablanca, especially in the capital Bogotá, reacted to the high fuel prices by honking their horns.

Hundreds of motorists and motorcyclists gathered on 7th Avenue, one of Bogotá’s largest main arteries, marched on the Ministry of Transportation and demanded negotiations with the government.

Photo by: AA

Subsequently, the crowds who got on their motorbikes and vehicles continued their protests without incident.

Alfonso Medrano, president of the Colombian Truck Drivers Association (ACC) and president of the United Chamber of Transport, said that diesel prices will increase even more and that they will increase their actions if the issue is not negotiated with the government.

Finance Minister Ricardo Bonilla maintained that diesel prices will not increase, saying: “The government does not increase diesel prices and does not plan to increase it this year. Claims that diesel prices will increase are not true. There is no reason for truckers to threaten strikes.” He used the phrase.

Photo by: AA

President Gustavo Petro also reacted to Senator María Fernanda Cabal in her post on the X social media platform: “He wants the roads to be closed provoking extreme right-wing truckers, just as happened to Allende (the former socialist president of Chile, Salvador Allende). “She happened to this government. She wants him to come.”

The authorities reported that the demonstrations ended generally without incident and that some of the protesters experienced brief tensions with the police.

Diesel and gasoline prices have risen several times in recent months as the government cuts fuel subsidies in the country, where diesel averages about $3 a gallon. (AA)