The National Trade Council (CGN) issued a statement on June 2 announcing its decision to refrain from promoting spaces for institutional dialogue with campaigns or political movements that disregard the rules of the electoral process, undermine trust in the competent authorities, or question the results without serious evidence.
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The decision was made in response to recent statements and actions by the President of the Republic and his political party, which, according to the council, jeopardize the institutional neutrality, the balance of democratic competition, and the mandate of national unity enshrined in the Constitution.
In the document, the National Trade Council reaffirmed the pillars guiding its actions in the country, highlighting the defense of free enterprise, private property, the market economy, and legal certainty. The organization emphasized that economic growth, investment, employment, and social development directly depend on the existence of clear rules of the game and unrestricted respect for the Social Rule of Law.
Therefore, the corporation expressed deep concern regarding the positions of the National Government and its political group that could “affect institutional neutrality, trust in electoral authorities, and preemptive respect for the rules and results of the democratic process.”
“We cannot remain silent in the face of a political option that has questioned electoral results without evidence, sought to sow distrust in democratic authorities for political convenience, and has received the support of the National Government amid the electoral process,” stated the Trade Council.
The statement formally cites Article 188 of the Political Constitution of Colombia, which establishes that the President of the Republic symbolizes national unity and is obliged, under oath, to guarantee the rights and freedoms of all citizens.
The CGN emphasized that this constitutional mandate requires preserving trust in State institutions and unequivocally committing to the citizen will expressed at the polls.
Consequently, the Trade Council assured that when a campaign or political movement questions the legitimacy of the electoral process without serious evidence, or conditions the recognition of its results, “the minimum conditions of trust to sustain constructive institutional dialogue with the guilds do not exist.” Therefore, the National Trade Council stated that it will refrain “from promoting spaces for institutional dialogue with those who persist in disregarding the results”.
The statement concludes by reaffirming that the legitimacy of the Colombian electoral system and its oversight entities must be respected by all sectors to ensure the country’s democratic stability. The document is supported by more than thirty economic guilds and sectoral associations that make up the National Trade Council.
*This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from the National Trade Council and was reviewed by a journalist and an editor.
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