Comments:Major Colombian newspaper reveals Bogotá mayor does not hold claimed PhD degree

Back to article

This page is for commentary on the news. If you wish to point out a problem in the article (e.g. factual error, etc), please use its regular collaboration page instead. Comments on this page do not need to adhere to the Neutral Point of View policy. Please remain on topic and avoid offensive or inflammatory comments where possible. Try thought-provoking, insightful, or controversial. Civil discussion and polite sparring make our comments pages a fun and friendly place. Please think of this when posting.

Use the "Start a new discussion" button just below to start a new discussion. If the button isn't there, wait a few seconds and click this link: Refresh.

Although Enrique Penalosa is the establishment's protégé, which means that the official media is committed to present him in a good light, the public started to become suspicious as day after day his inarticulate sentences were making headlines in radio stations and social media. Some people started to wonder if this guy really had the superior education he claimed to have had in America and France, particularly his PhD at the University of Paris. One of the least glamourous experiences has been to hear Penalosa's constant depise for the opinions of experts and academics and anyone, everyone who criticises him in any matter.

The impact of the mayor's inability to articulate a sensible sentence has been such that Penalosa has become a sort of the nation's buffoon. The word penalosada, a portmanteau derived from his last name has become synonym of the Spanish word "bobada" (foolishness). There is hashtag [#penalosada] in twiter where people share comic and self-contradictory sentences written in imitation of the politician's style.

Here I present a selection of Panalosa's most polemic sentences:

“El diseño del metro lo hizo un funcionario del IDU lavándose los dientes”. December 12 of 2015 Translation: "The metro's design was made by an employee of the Urban Development Institute while brushing his teeth." He said this sentence to discard the design of an underground train line for Bogotá, a design that took 7 years and cost millions of dollars.

“La reserva es la única del mundo que no tiene árboles, son potreros”. January 16 of 2015 Translation: "It is the only natural reserve in the world without trees, it is just a grassland." He said this to justify his decision to release the land of a natural park for the construction of apartment buildings.

“La ETB es igual a la caja menor de un mes de una empresa de comunicaciones europea”. January 1 of 2016 Translation: "The Bogota Telephone Company is like the petty cash of a European communications company" He said this to justify the decision to sell the Bogotá Telephone Company.

“No hay estudio que lo sustente, pero creemos que hay muchas razones”. January 10 of 2016 Translation: "There are no studies to support it, but I believe there are many reasons." Penalosa said this as justification to replace the design of an underground train for his improvised design of an elevated metro.

“Haremos una vía que sea una especie de lamborghini o ferrari de los sistemas tipo transmilenio”. January 10 of 2016 Translation: "We will make a street that is a sort of Lamborgini or Ferrari of the Transmilenio bus." He said this to sell the idea that BRT is better than an underground.

“Transmilenio en la práctica hace lo mismo que el metro”. January 07 of 2016 Translation: "Transmilenio (bus system) in reality does the same as a metro (system)."

“Vamos a hacer para nuestra ciudad el mejor sistema de transporte público, para un país en vía de desarrollo”. January 04 of 2016 Translation: "We are going to make for our city the best public transport for a developing country." This was probably one of the most polemic sentences has ever said, as it reflects his intentions of making cheap improvisations, instead of building sustainable high quality systems.

“Si a uno lo insultan en la calle se desahogan, tienen esa posibilidad y eso es bueno en la democracia”. February 04 of 2016 Translation: "If they insult me on the street they unburden themselves, they have that chance and that's good for democracy"

“No hay nada más ineficiente que una empresa pública de aseo” January 07 of 2016 Translation: "There is nothing more inefficient than a public cleaning company."

“Trenes ligeros son juguetes muy costosos”. January 07 of 2016 Translation: "Light trains are very expensive toys."

“Todas las empresas de acueducto de Francia son privadas”. January 01 of 2016. Translation: "All the water companies of France are private."