Beyond the particular case, Petro considered his dismissal and the prohibition of occupying other public positions for fifteen years as a “coup d’état”. A crowd of Bogota residents took to the streets on Monday to protest the measure.

Real World Radio interviewed sociologist and environmental activist Hernan Dario Correa during the demonstration in Bolivar square. He said the decision of Attorney General Alejandro Ordoñez is the result of the “increasing pressure by the Colombian right-wing”, which is showing an unknown side, since it is pressuring through political violence.

The activist described the incident as “institutional destabilization”. He said Bogota is heading to a very important day on December 31st, when unless the mayor’s dismissal is overturned, there will be early elections in March, a few days before the national elections.

He also described the decision as “a message to Havana”, where the Colombian government has been holding talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) about the political participation of the insurgents.

Petro’s defense claimed the General Attorney’s Office has no jurisdiction to dismiss a democratically elected public servant and that it is a violation to due process.

The nearly 10,000 citizens gathered in Plaza Bolivar said the right to elect and to be elected has been violated by dismissing the mayor. Petro called a peaceful demonstration to oppose the decision.

Meanwhile, Correa said the decision, besides being illegitimate, threatens the peace talks and the development of the country’s upcoming presidential elections.

The same tactics were used against senator Piedad Cordoba, a key player in the exchange of war prisoners and the attempt to open a political path to the armed opposition in Colombia.

“The right-wing’s tactic is to attack the opposition”, said Correa. He mentioned that banning Petro from occupying any public positions for fifteen years implies removing one of the alternative political leaders from the country’s political scene, in a place that has historically been ruled by two parties.

“They want to leave politics unchanged”, said Correa.