Maria Fernanda Cabal, 59, joined the Colombian Senate in 2018, after a term as a deputy, and has established herself as a defender of the free market, national security and private property. Her performance earned her comparisons with Margaret Thatcher, mainly due to her uncompromising stance against socialist ideologies, similar to that adopted by the former British Prime Minister.
Born in Cali, she and her husband come from a family with a strong tradition of cattle ranching, influencing their perspective on economics and private property from an early age. She graduated in Economics from the University of Los Andes and she also has a master’s degree in Political Science, which would help her political career in the future.
Cabal is a fervent critic of the 2016 Peace Accords signed between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), arguing that they facilitated impunity and granted political power to former guerrillas, which, in his view, harmed security and justice in Colombia.
Internationally recognized, Cabal maintains alliances with prominent conservative figures worldwide, such as Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro and Javier Milei. Her constant participation in events such as CPAC highlights her position as one of the main representatives of the conservative movement in Latin America.
She emerges as a strong opponent of Gustavo Petro’s government, criticizing the current president’s far-left inclination. Her political position is markedly right-wing and based on traditional Christian principles. A great admirer of Olavo de Carvalho, she became a student of the philosopher. Cabal also expresses a scathing critique of the “woke” movement and the globalist agenda, which she considers threats to Colombian sovereignty and traditional values. Her political activities reflect a fight against influences that she perceives as dangerous for national autonomy, strengthening her figure in the conservative scenario not only in Colombia, but throughout Latin America.
Within Colombia, dissatisfaction with Petro could be measured on April 21, when thousands of people gathered in Plaza de Bolívar, in the capital Bogotá, to protest against the government. Among the main criticisms were the reforms proposed by the government in the areas of health and pensions, as well as the management of Health Promotion Companies (EPS).
One of the most controversial elements that galvanized much of the opposition was Petro’s proposal for the creation of a new constitution, perceived by many as an attempt to radically restructure the country’s institutional pillars and based on a model similar to that of Chavista Venezuela. In an interview with People’s GazetteCabal comments on the country’s political turmoil and the clash against Petro’s radicalism.
People’s Gazette: Senator, how do the recent demonstrations in Colombia against President Gustavo Petro compare in size and scope to other significant protests in Colombian history?
Senator María Fernanda Cabal: I could say that the biggest demonstration I’ve been to in my life was in 2008, against the FARC, and that this last one, on March 21st, was very similar. There were rivers of people from all social classes. All over the country, not just in big cities, but also in medium and small ones. It was a response to a predatory government because people feel uncertain about their future. They are afraid of having to leave the country. They are afraid of poverty, in the face of Gustavo Petro’s administration.
People’s Gazette: What were the main motivations behind the April 21 demonstrations? Were the protesters primarily focused on the impeachment process, the proposals for a new constitution, the specific reforms proposed by Petro, or were there other factors involved?
Senator María Fernanda Cabal: A march was already being prepared, but the proposal for a Constituent Assembly set off the alarms and was the trigger that united the crowds. Here, Gustavo Petro will not be able to implement the recipe that destroyed other Latin American countries with the lie of 21st century socialism. Here people, in the midst of all this uncertainty, the situation is terrible. People came out to demonstrate because they want Petro to leave, they want Petro to go away. They don’t want him to leave because he is the elite or the oligarchy, as he points out, but because he is impoverishing the country. All economic indicators are falling, there is disinvestment, there is discouragement, stagnation and unemployment. Mainly, there is the most important variable today, which is insecurity. The deaths of Colombians, the massacres that already exceed the number of 110, drug trafficking taking control of municipalities and the army losing territorial control due to an idea of total peace that will never come. On the contrary, it will end up increasing violence in the country.
People’s Gazette: Senator, in relation to the recent demonstrations, what do you consider their impact on the Colombian political context? Did they cause any significant changes in political dynamics or public perception of the government?
Senator María Fernanda Cabal: “It impacted everything because people feel the strength of the street. And conversely, Petro lost the streets and Petro has a left-wing personality. This means he needs people to adore him as a good narcissist. He feels messianic. He feels like he’s going to take us to paradise like all these socialists who end up destroying countries. The strength of these streets made us feel that yes, we can, that we are the majority, that we will not let ourselves be robbed of the country. Politically, the focus is on Congress to see if the reforms will pass. But all the congressmen are already in the public arena, thanks to social networks, who work or act in favor of the government and against the citizen’s desire.”
People’s Gazette: “In your opinion, is there a real risk that Colombia will move towards a dictatorial form of government under the leadership of Gustavo Petro?
Senator María Fernanda Cabal: “Petro is not alone, but accompanied by a hidden team that designs predatory policies to lead the country to total dismemberment. Behind each ministry, there is a parallel team thinking about how, through multiple administrative decisions, decrees and resolutions, to destroy the institutional stability. This is the danger, because this also calls into question the speed and effectiveness with which the high courts can respond to demands for acts clearly contrary to the Constitution. If the institutions resist and the people continue to demonstrate against Petro, he will. will have no other option except the violence in which the country finds itself.”
People’s Gazette: Do you believe that there is an agenda from President Petro that aims to transform Colombia into a political-economic model similar to that of Venezuela? What specific evidence or actions reinforce this perception?
Senator María Fernanda Cabal: Yes, there is an agenda. For me it is very clear. The evidence is complacency with crime, complacency through peace processes that will not happen, through the eradication and non-fumigation of coca crops, also with a certain acquiescence from the United States Department of State, which is not being as demanding as it was with other governments. We see that all projects lead to nationalization and individual control, destroying one of the best healthcare systems in the world to take us back to the system we had 30 years ago, a system of patient control. A labor reform that will strengthen trade unions that do not have the power they had before, because here the economy that generates more jobs is through small and medium-sized entrepreneurs. A reform of the pension system where the individual will also not be able to decide on their pension savings, after all, it is the same socialist recipe as always. That the danger is that we will definitely become a Narcostate, which is what it means to be a member of the São Paulo Forum, the Puebla Group and the Progressive International, which embrace ideas that only produce violence, poverty and death.
People’s Gazette: What are the main changes that President Petro wants to implement in the Colombian constitution? What would be the impacts of these changes on the democratic functioning of the country?
Senator Maria Fernanda Cabal: What we know is that Petro has an anarchist approach that seeks to dismantle the entire constitutional order. He supported the constitution created by M-19, in which many forces participated and benefited from an agreement of total impunity for criminals. He proposes nationalizing key sectors such as health, education and pensions. In health, he seeks to make people depend on the current government; in education, eliminate competition with the private sector to indoctrinate students; and in social security, control savings that should belong to citizens, not the government. Furthermore, his labor reform imposes unsustainable burdens on employers, which could lead to foreign companies leaving the country and local companies not growing or generating jobs.
People’s Gazette: How do you see the similarities and differences between President Gustavo Petro and former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, especially in terms of public policies and governance?
Senator Maria Fernanda Cabal: Petro and Lula share left-wing populism, intending to represent the people as if they were a uniform mass, with no right to think differently. Petro has been involved in complicity with drug trafficking, which finances campaigns in a large part of the territory. Both sought to dismantle the constitutional order and were beneficiaries of impunity. However, Lula is not as ideologically extreme as Petro; he recognizes the importance of oil, gas and coal for the country’s development, unlike Petro, who rejects them.
People’s Gazette: How do you see the Brazilian situation?
Senator María Fernanda Cabal: Brazilians face two major challenges. The first is a Supreme Court controlled by judges who violate judicial guarantees and due process. It is essential to speak out against this judicial dictatorship. The second challenge is the elections, which are currently not transparent due to Indra manipulating the ability to reflect citizen voting intentions. It is crucial to control the electoral result, demand transparency and use all mechanisms, including international ones, to ensure that elections are transparent and free.
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