Artworks ordered to return to museum

A judge ordered on Wednesday evening, October 28, the return of artworks related to peace processes, sexual diversity, and feminism that had been removed by the ultraconservative government of President Abelardo De la Espriella from the National Museum of Bogota in mid-October. The government had justified the removal, implemented on October 15, by the fight against "political indoctrination."

Public reaction and legal response

This removal prompted demonstrations organized by cultural collectives and opposition political groups, who filed a complaint denouncing "censorship." The judiciary granted this request on Wednesday and ordered the Ministry of Culture to return all the works within 48 hours in the name of the "constitutional protection of cultural expressions."

Political statement on the ruling

Gabriel Becerra, a left-wing deputy and co-author of the appeal, responded on the X platform, stating, "This is a victory for the victims, diversity, peace, and historical memory." He added, "No government is the owner of our history!" The court decision, which can be appealed, specifies that it does not require the permanent display of the works but aims to ensure that their fate is not determined solely by the disagreement of the authorities with the ideas or events represented.

President’s political stance and views

Taking office in August, Mr. De la Espriella presents himself as an admirer of American President Donald Trump, sharing his ideas. He recently emphasized that "the state had the moral duty" to "prevent cultural spaces from being taken over by atheistic social-communism hostile to traditional values."