Colombia's leftist president called thousands of supporters to the streets Tuesday, a political show of strength and effort to press lawmakers into passing stalled health and labor reforms.
In major cities from Bogota to Medellin, thousands of Gustavo Petro supporters blocked streets, waved flags, and chanted slogans of support.
Petro is the first leftist president in Colombia's history, but he has failed to pass the bulk of his reformist agenda through Congress.
With little more than a year left in his four-year term, Petro is now in a race to fulfill key pledges and guild his political legacy.
The ex-guerrilla cannot run in the 2026 elections, but he hopes populist support in favor of reforms will bolster his movement and his as-yet-unannounced successor.
He is expected to join the march in Bogota's Plaza de Bolivar, in the heart of the capital, later on Tuesday.
"The people are with you", said one poster brandished at the rally in Bogota.
Petro has blamed powerful business interests for blocking reforms, which among other measures would give workers extra pay for working nights, Sundays or public holidays.
Pensioner Edgar Sanchez said he was protesting so that his kids and grandkids can regain what he once had: "eight-hour workdays, night pay and an end to outsourcing."
Petro has also called for a referendum on the reforms, a move Congress is also unlikely to approve.