In 1821, Liberator Simon Bolivar was sworn in as president of Gran Colombia.

The event began at eleven in the morning, when Bolívar entered the session room located in the sacristy of the parish church of Villa del Rosario de Cúcuta (now Cúcuta), and with it the unifying dream of the genius of America began, defining the principles for overcoming the political, economic and social institutions inherited from 300 years of Spanish colonialism.

The Liberator took his seat next to the president of the Congress and when everyone stood up, he began his oath of office. The nascent Republic was made up of Venezuela, Quito (Ecuador) and Cundinamarca, the name assigned to New Granada. After a speech and the inauguration of Francisco de Paula Santander as vice-president, the text of the Constitution that gave political life to the Republic of Gran Colombia was read.

“The oath I just took is for me a pact of conscience that multiplies my duties of submission to the law and to the country. Only a deep respect for the sovereign will would compel me to submit to the formidable weight of the supreme judiciary. The gratitude I owe to the representatives of the people also imposes on me a pleasant obligation to continue my services to defend, with my property, with my blood and even with my honor, this Constitution that contains the rights of human peoples, bound by freedom, good and glory”, were the words of our Liberator when he assumed the presidency.

Mazo News Team