In his inaugural speech, the newly elected Colombian President calls for a war on drugs and asks for US support

In his inaugural address, Columbia President-elect Gustavo Petro vowed to take his country in a new direction and prevent punitive drug policies that have led to increased deaths and violence across Latin America.

His comments were well received by some politicians in America, including Democratic MP Jim McGovern, who said he looks forward to working with Petro and considering new approaches to drug policy.

“Safety is measured by lives, not deaths” – words of welcome from the newly inaugurated President @petrogustavo of #Colombia.

I look forward to working together to end hunger, strengthen peace, strengthen human rights and the rule of law, rethink drug policies, and more. https://t.co/aQkvoiljph

— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) August 8, 2022

Petro is Colombia’s first left-leaning president and used his inaugural address to outline some of the most pressing issues his government would address in the coming months.

Discussing drug policy, Petro condemned Colombia’s earlier efforts, claiming that they had only made it easier for international drug cartels to operate and thrive.

“In order for peace to be possible in Colombia, we need dialogue and understanding to look for common paths and bring about change,” he said. “Peace is possible if, for example, you change the policy against drugs.”

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Petro said a public health approach to drug use could encourage better outcomes, a school of thought and long-term strategies endorsed by a wide range of experts around the world.

Petro called on the US and other industrialized nations to change and develop drug policies that promote prohibition and thus enable conflict in Latin America.

“It’s time for a new international convention that accepts that the war on drugs has failed,” he said. “Of course peace is possible. But it depends on replacing current drug policies with strong policies that discourage use in developed societies.”

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MP Jim McGovern shared his support on Twitter. “I look forward to working together to end hunger, strengthen peace, strengthen human rights and the rule of law, rethink drug policies and more,” he wrote.

Petro is a polarizing figure in Colombia and was elected President last June 19th. He is a former member of M-19, a Colombian guerrilla group, and has beaten conservative parties by connecting with voters affected and impacted by rising poverty and violence.