Iván Cepeda and Gustavo Petro lead the opposition response to President Abelardo de la Espriella's earthquake address.

Former President Gustavo Petro and Senator Iván Cepeda have officially taken over the leadership of the opposition to deliver a formal response to President Abelardo de la Espriella's earthquake address. The opposition's response, which lasted the same duration as the president's speech, was divided between the two leaders. Senator Iván Cepeda began the intervention by offering solidarity to families affected by the earthquake and highlighting the community action groups that saved people. During his portion, he requested that the rights of the most vulnerable populations should not be neglected during the economic emergency. He also called for a prevention plan to address forest fires caused by drought. Former President Gustavo Petro criticized the administration's initial response to the earthquake and noted the lack of an emergency transition plan. He proposed that the government recover its tax reform project to raise 20 billion pesos for reconstruction. Petro noted that the law requires the opposition to speak through all channels to demonstrate the effectiveness of the aid provided to victims.

Sources

• El Tiempo
  Ernesto Macías, expresidente del Congreso, explica por qué Gustavo Petro no tiene derecho a la réplica como la había pedido: 'Es la ley'
• El Espectador
  Petro y Cepeda hicieron réplica a alocución presidencial de De la Espriella, ¿qué dijeron?
• Caracol Radio
  Pacto solicitó derecho a réplica tras alocución de De la Espriella: la harán Cepeda y Petro