President Gustavo Petro rejected the use of military bases for his successor's inauguration ceremony. He insisted the event must take place before Congress, as required by the Constitution.
In a post on X, Petro stated that the law requires the oath before Congress in plenary session. He announced instructions that no military or police facility be used for the August 7 ceremony.
The president noted that he remains commander in chief until the transition ends. He said officers can only render military honors to the person holding that position.
Abelardo De La Espriella's transition team had asked Congress to consider moving the event to a military garrison. A request by coordinator Mariana Pacheco Montes sought a legal opinion before the new Congress convenes on July 20.
A document from the outgoing government, signed by José Raúl Moreno, maintained that the Constitution does not allow the transfer of power to occur at a military site.
