Caricaturist Matador removed from Senate following confrontation

Caricaturist Julio César González, known as ‘Matador’, was removed from the Senate plenary session by police intervention after a confrontation with lawmakers. The incident occurred after several congressmen rejected his presence and blocked him from speaking during the session.

Matador had arrived at the legislative chamber at the invitation of members of the Pacto Histórico, including Senator Isabel Zuleta. He carried a sign referencing President Abelardo de la Espriella and his wife, Ana Lucía Pineda. His presence drew strong opposition from senators such as Jota Pe Hernández and Esteban Quintero, who argued against allowing an individual to intervene who had previously made offensive comments regarding women.

The controversy follows recent social media posts by Matador in which he used derogatory language toward the First Lady, Ana Lucía Pineda, and questioned the distribution of aid following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Pereira. Fellow caricaturists, including Vladdo, have publicly criticized Matador, accusing him of plagiarism and of losing professional independence by becoming a political militant for the government.