The protest must continue along the path of prudence

A new survey indicates a decline in approval ratings for Colombian President Abelardo De la Espriella, with his rivals gaining ground. The second poll conducted by Atlas Intel and Bloomberg was released yesterday, measuring public opinion regarding De la Espriella's government performance. This is the only current polling organization assessing public sentiment toward the new president, though its results are not considered representative due to non-compliance with the 2025 law governing national opinion surveys. Despite this, the findings have been widely shared by domestic media outlets. The initial measurement taken in August showed De la Espriella starting with a barely majority approval rating of 52 percent. Historically, this number is modest compared to previous presidents, such as Gustavo Petro, who had a 65 percent approval rating at a similar stage. According to the latest survey, De la Espriella’s approval has dropped three points to 49 percent, with a margin of error of two percent. Typically, a new president experiences a rise in popularity during the first few months due to enthusiasm surrounding their administration and efforts to bridge gaps with non-supporting sectors. However, De la Espriella appears to have shifted focus towards a more sectarian approach aimed at his core supporters after his inauguration speech. His administration has concentrated on communicating achievements in security, including leading an offensive against crime while carrying a radio telephone and a pistol at his waist, a unique move in modern history. Despite these actions, including the killing of "Bendito Menor" and increased military operations, his disapproval rate has risen slightly to 45 percent. The communication strategy of the president and his government continues to center around themes that drove his presidential campaign. De la Espriella continues to appeal to his base that voted for him in the first round. When asked how respondents evaluate the overall management of the government, not just the president, 48 percent responded positively, indicating a 7 percentage point increase over those who rated it negatively. Approval of De la Espriella varies based on religion and region. His popularity is highest among Protestants, with 77.7 percent approving of him, compared to only 15.3 percent among atheists and agnostics, a gap of 62 points. This reflects the religious identity he seeks to associate with his project. Previously, Petro had a different religious divide, with atheists having a more positive image of him than religious individuals, although the difference was smaller, at 45 points. Regarding income levels, De la Espriella enjoys higher approval among those earning less than 1.5 million pesos monthly, with 40 percent approval, which is 14 points lower than the approval rate among those earning more than four million pesos. Petro had a 19-point gap in favor of the poorer segments of society, whereas De la Espriella is more popular among men than women (54 percent versus 44 percent), a smaller gap than Petro's, who had 37 percent support among men and 50 percent among women. Women do not reject De la Espriella more than men, however. Recent protests in Colombia were marked by peaceful demonstrations, contrary to fears expressed on social media by supporters of the government, who warned of potential violence and institutional breakdown. These concerns did not materialize, showing that Colombia's democracy can protect the right to protest through legitimate mechanisms. The government upheld its promise to respect peaceful protesters, demonstrating political maturity that should be repeated in future demonstrations. President De la Espriella emphasized the importance of respecting peaceful protest, stating that violence, vandalism, and any attempt to violate others' rights would not be tolerated under his administration. He reaffirmed his commitment to defending democracy and protecting the rights of all citizens. Women marched in Pereira to oppose caricatures published by cartoonist 'Matador,' which they deemed misogynistic and sexist. The images targeted First Lady Ana Lucía Pineda, criticizing her foundation for raising funds to help earthquake victims. Feminist groups argued that the caricatures crossed the line into gender-based violence and degradation, prompting calls for respect for women's dignity and a rejection of symbolic violence against them, regardless of political stance. A new complaint has been filed with the Prosecutor's Office against 'Matador' for his publications targeting Ana Lucía Pineda. Demonstrators demanded that the criticism remain within political boundaries and not promote offensive expressions. President De la Espriella highlighted the 204 years of relations between Colombia and the United States, emphasizing the need to maintain and strengthen this relationship. He noted that both countries have bipartisan support for their alliance, with Republicans and Democrats in the US backing the partnership throughout history. He affirmed that the government will continue to honor this legacy and work to further develop the relationship. He stated that Colombia and the United States are the oldest democracies in the Western Hemisphere, and mutual respect for institutions and democratic values have allowed their relationship to transcend governments and political differences. He reiterated his commitment to strengthening cooperation with all political sectors in the US and the American people. This statement follows recent meetings with Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, whose visit reinforced the importance of cooperation between the two nations. The government met with Rubio, one of the most influential figures after former President Donald Trump, who demonstrated strong support for Colombia.