BOGOTÁ, Colombia — A significant number of Colombians rallied on Saturday to express their dissent against President Gustavo Petro’s policies, whom they accuse of fostering a corrupt government. The protests unfolded in major cities like Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali, where demonstrators voiced their concerns about proposed reforms related to health, labor, and pensions.

The protests attracted a diverse crowd, including retired military personnel and members of the opposition, all prominently displaying Colombian flags. Many participants carried signs with messages such as “No to Petro reforms” and “No to labor reforms,” clearly articulating their opposition to the president’s agenda.

Luis Carlos Hernández, a protester in Bogotá, expressed his dismay at needing to take to the streets to condemn what he described as corruption within Petro’s administration. He referred to supporters of the President as “guerrilla bandits,” highlighting the intensity of the sentiment among some of the demonstrators.

In response to the demonstrations, President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla, downplayed the scale of the protests, claiming that only about 20,000 individuals participated. He characterized the demonstrators as attempting to destabilize the government and undermine the democratic process. “In Colombia, we will stop the coup d’état,” he declared on the social media platform X.

Saturday’s protest marks a continuation of pushback against Petro’s reform efforts, which have been attracting criticism since he assumed office in 2022. The demonstrations are becoming increasingly prominent and reflect a growing frustration among various sectors of Colombian society regarding the President’s proposed changes.