Calls for Green Party leader’s resignation following violent Bogota bus protests

A Colombian congressman has demanded the resignation of Colombia’s Green Party leader and ex-mayor of Bogota, in the wake of violent public transport protests in the capital.

Jhon Sudarsky said the failure of Luis “Lucho” Garzon to expand the TransMilenio bus network in 2007 warranted his resignation, during a congressional meeting.

Garzon delayed construction of TransMilenio‘s phase three in his last days as the mayor of the capital in 2007, according to Sudarsky — work which would have expanded the bus network, allowing for more efficient service.

Violent protests over poor TranMilenio service and expensive fares virtually shut down Bogota on March 8, despite the city’s transport system being emulated by urban centers around the world.

“Instead of signing off on designs for the construction of phase three of TransMilenio, [Garzon] spent two years doing nothing about it,” complained Sudarsky to newspaper El Tiempo. He continued, saying that “the mess we have today would be greatly minimized.”

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