Francia Marquez Critiques her Government
Colombia’s vice president, Francia Marquez, who is aligned with the radical left, recently expressed her discontent with President Gustavo Petro’s administration, citing “racist” and “patriarchal” practices within the government.
Marquez also voiced her grievances about her dismissal from the Ministry of Equality.
She was Petro’s running mate in the 2022 presidential election, which led to his historic win as Colombia’s first leftist president. At that time, mainstream media highlighted her achievement as becoming the first Afro-Colombian vice president. In December 2022, Marquez called on UN member states to provide reparations for racial justice to Afro-descendants and the African diaspora.
During a recent forum on “Economic Justice of Afro Childbirth” held in Cali, which coincided with National Afro-Colombia Day commemorating the abolition of slavery in 1851, Marquez criticized the government’s approach. She stated, “Governing in a country with a racial state along with a government that practices racism and patriarchy has been challenging. I came in with hopes and dreams, but faced numerous obstacles.”
She further revealed her disagreements with several of Petro’s decisions—particularly her own removal from the Ministry of Equality earlier this year. Marquez held that position from June until February 2023, marking the first time the role had been created in the country.
“I’ve seen progress during my time, having built the Ministry of Equality from scratch. It was an extraordinary challenge—no such ministries existed a hundred years ago,” she commented. However, she lamented that when she was prepared to further establish it and attract investment, she was unexpectedly removed by President Petro.
Marquez pointed out that her office struggled with insufficient funding needed to function effectively. “With this government, we had to go out into the field and sometimes even knock on mayors’ doors to secure meetings,” she explained, adding that there was no dedicated budget for the Vice Presidency.
She credited her achievements to support from international collaborations and the Colombian people, insisting that her work had not been in vain.
Marquez’s removal from her post came amid a broader government restructuring initiated by Petro following a controversial and widely discussed ministerial meeting broadcasted live on national television.
During that meeting, amidst tensions surrounding Petro’s remarks on cocaine and other issues, Marquez alongside other ministers voiced their concerns over the return of certain controversial figures to the government, including the current Foreign Minister and Home Minister, both close to Petro.
In an upcoming report, it was noted that Marquez has been less visible since her dismissal in February. Gustavo Bolivar, a former senator and friend, mentioned that her relationship with Petro had grown “cold” since her removal, detailing how it deeply affected her after she dedicated significant time to establishing the ministry.
Bolivar reiterated that despite the frustrations, Marquez is unlikely to step down from her vice presidential role, as she was elected for a four-year term in 2022, and has no immediate plans for a presidential run.
