As is now tradition, the new Congress of the Republic –made up of 108 senators and 188 representatives to the Chamber– will take office this July 20day in which the independence of Colombia is commemorated.
A bench that declared itself majority Government will legislate during the constitutional period 2022-2026, with just 32 seats in opposition to Gustavo Petrobelonging to the Democratic Center, former presidential candidate Rodolfo Hernández, former vice-presidential candidate Marelen Castillo and the special Afro-descendant constituency occupied by Miguel Polo Polo.
For possession, it is also highlighted that for the first time 16 representatives of the victims will take office of the Colombian armed conflict, elected to occupy the Special Transitory Circumscriptions of Peace that were approved for the periods 2022-2026 and 2026-2030.
Also, it will be the last period in which peace signatories take office as a rule of the extinct FARC guerrilla, represented by the Comunes Party, who have the right to 5 seats in the Senate and one seat for each of the five lists of representatives to the Chamber that obtain the highest number of votes. This was stipulated in the Final Peace Agreement signed in 2016 for a period of eight years, which will end with this constitutional period.
12:15 p.m. Parade ends
11:50 a.m. Parade continues
The nearly 11,600 men and women of the Public Force advanced along Boyacá Avenue, on the north-south road, from 153rd to 127th streets. Among them, there was the presence of military wounded in combat and veterans.
11:10 a.m. The parade officially begins
After President Duque authorized the Commander of the Army’s Fifth Division, Major General Oscar Reinaldo Rey Linares, to start the parade, the official ceremony began in commemoration of the 212 years of the cry of Independence.
At the parade, Army soldiers wore the new uniform of the institution, which is inspired by the modular scales of amphibians and reptiles, represented in the geometric figure of the hexagon. This transformation comes after 15 years of wearing the pixelated jungle outfit.
10:50 am Decoration with the Order of Boyacá
Before officially starting the military parade, the outgoing president Ivan Dukeaccompanied by Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez, Defense Minister Diego Molano, and the military leadership presented the Order of Boyacá, the highest decoration awarded by the Government to the public force for his service to the country. The delivery took place on Boyacá Avenue, north of Bogotá.
By the way, Duque tweeted: “On this #20DeJulio, with patriotic pride, we lead the Military Parade to honor the men and women of our @FuerzasMilCol and @PoliciaColombia, who give everything to protect the life, property and honor of Colombians. Let us unite in #ElPaísQueConstruimos”.
10:20 am The act beginsindependence Day
More than 11,000 members of the public force will parade on land and in the air the traditional military and police parade in commemoration of Independence Day.
“Soldiers and police officers take to the streets of Colombia today to once again demonstrate their capabilities. Our country is protected by brave people who have the flag engraved in their hearts. Raise your flag and support the Public Force”, Defense Minister Diego Molano invited on Twitter.
10:00 am Road and air closures
Due to the activities scheduled to commemorate Independence Day, the Civil Aeronautics reported that the Bogotá airspace will be closed between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m..
For the case of Medellinwhere the traditional military parade will return on July 20, the restrictions will go from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and the road closures will apply to Carrera 70, in both directions, between Calle 1, the Pedro Justo Berrío Battalion and Avenida Bolivariana.