Colombian Petro called on his supporters to defend economic reforms in his latest presidential address

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Monday called on his supporters to protect his government’s social and economic reforms and resist any efforts by the incoming administration to change the country’s labor laws.

The leftist leader accused Israel and the United States of interfering in Colombia’s recent presidential elections, in a lengthy speech he gave on Monday on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day, which he said would be his last as head of state.

President-elect Abelardo de la Esprilla, a conservative lawyer and dual U.S.-Colombian citizen, has promised to cut government spending by up to 40% and draft labor laws that would enable companies to hire employees on an hourly basis. He will be sworn in on August 7.

Petro intensified his accusations of rigging the elections, saying that he would soon provide evidence of how the election results were rigged with the help of software provided by Israel. Colombia’s electoral authorities have rejected allegations of fraud.

Petro also urged his supporters to mobilize “by the millions” and organize strikes if the country’s next government tries to change labor laws, which have increased overtime wages and made it difficult for companies in Colombia to hire workers on short-term contracts.

“We must exercise our opposition in the streets and resist peacefully… but in an overwhelming way,” Petro said.

Political tensions increased in Colombia following the presidential elections held on June 21, which de la Espriilla won by a narrow margin of 250,000 votes. The losing candidate, Petro ally Ivan Cepeda, initially acknowledged the results, but later said that if de la Espriilla did not renounce his US citizenship, he would not be recognized as the legitimate head of state.

Criminal defense attorney De la Espriilla entered politics last year after running a Florida law firm representing high-profile clients, including former leaders of Colombian paramilitary groups and businessmen accused of money laundering.

The lawyer has promised to cancel peace talks between the Colombian government and rebel groups, while implementing an iron-fisted approach to crime that includes building massive prisons, similar to the CECOT prison in El Salvador.

De la Espriilla also said he would like to lower taxes on corporations, so they can pay workers higher wages. Under Petro’s administration, the country’s minimum wage has nearly doubled to about $550 a month.

De la Espriilla was endorsed by US President Donald Trump in the run-up to the elections, sparking accusations of interference in Colombia’s internal affairs.

Petro said Monday that Trump’s support for de la Espriilla should be a reason to overturn the results.

Colombia’s electoral authorities have certified de la Espriilla’s victory, and the president-elect has said he would like to hold his inauguration at a military base as a way to show his support for the country’s armed forces.

The president-elect said Monday that rebel groups, including the National Liberation Army and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), had offered killers up to $1 million to kill him. De la Espriilla has promised to take a tougher stance against these groups, which have become increasingly powerful in rural areas, where they benefit from the drug trade.

Sergio Guzman, a political risk analyst in Bogota, said de la Esprilla will have to make some concessions as he tries to implement budget cuts or build new prisons because the conservative lawyer lacks a majority in Congress.

Petro hinted on Monday that he could stay in politics by serving as president of his political party, Historic Pact.

Guzman said Petro’s goal now “is to prove that he is still influential” and that his administration’s priorities “will not fade away” but will be part of a movement that will continue in Colombian politics.