International Backlash Against Colombian President

Twenty members of Congress from 14 Latin American countries have condemned outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro for posting “Heil Hitler” in reaction to an op-ed that favored a right-wing presidential candidate.

This condemnation follows earlier protests from Israel’s Foreign Ministry and various prominent American Jewish organizations regarding his provocative comments.

Lawmakers from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay expressed on Tuesday that invoking Nazi language is inappropriate in democratic discourse and should be denounced, particularly when it originates from heads of state.

They emphasized that this issue cannot be seen as an isolated incident, especially considering that leftist leaders often reference Nazism when discussing their opponents, critics, and the media.

In a joint statement initiated by the Fight Against Anti-Semitism movement, the lawmakers stressed, “The use of references to Nazism must not become a rhetorical device to undermine political or ideological positions. Leaders in a democracy have a responsibility to encourage respectful public debate, mindful of the impact of their words.”

Historians consistently warn that such comparisons minimize the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime and distort the historical memory of the Holocaust.

The incident took place just two weeks ahead of a run-off election in Colombia, where conservative opposition candidates are currently leading in the polls.