politics
March 24, 2026
“Vampire woman,” “princess of the oligarchy,” and “carrion animal”: Petro’s darts against those who requested explanations after the air tragedy
Instead of a message of containment and mourning in the face of one of the Military Forces' worst recent tragedies, President Gustavo Petro unleashed a barrage of social media posts that quickly escalated to insults, offenses, and personal disqualification.
TL;DR
- President Gustavo Petro's social media reaction to a military plane crash resulting in 68 deaths has been widely criticized.
- Instead of offering condolences, Petro engaged in confrontational messages, personal insults, and political attacks against former presidents and opposition figures like Iván Duque, Paloma Valencia, Marta Lucía Ramírez, Claudia López, María Fernanda Cabal, and Diego Molano.
- Critics argue that Petro politicized the tragedy, focusing on past contracts and personal narratives rather than providing a message of containment and mourning.
- The president questioned the purchase of an old Hercules C-130 aircraft and criticized previous administrations for alleged corruption and negligence in military equipment procurement.
- The incident has deepened polarization in Colombia, with many expecting a more somber and institutional response to the tragedy.