Colombian president calls on his cabinet to resign, ministers tell AFP
Published Apr 26, 2023 12:52 pm
BOGOTA, Colombia - Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called for the resignation of his entire cabinet as the government struggles to get legislation approved by Congress, two ministers told AFP on Wednesday.
Petro, the country's first leftist president, has so far not made his request public, but in a Twitter post on Tuesday he spoke of a "rethinking of the government."
Colombian President Gustavo Petro gestures during the opening of an international conference on the political process in Venezuela held in Bogota on April 25, 2023. At the initiative of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, representatives of around twenty countries are meeting in Colombia on Tuesday to try to relaunch dialogue in neighboring Venezuela between the Chavista government of Nicolas Maduro and its opposition.
Juan BARRETO / AFP
After nine months in power, Petro has been unable to usher in the profound reforms in labor laws, healthcare, pensions and the judiciary that he promised during his campaign.
On Tuesday, the Liberal and Conservative parties, and the Social Party of National Unity (de la U) distanced themselves from the government, objecting to elements of his far-reaching reform plans.
Petro, for his part, called for an "emergency government... given that Congress was incapable of approving simple very peaceful articles" on equitable redistribution of land.
Two months ago, Petro urged his followers to take to the streets to pressure for congressional approval of the reforms. Speaking from the balcony of the presidential palace, Petro said he would not back down.
Weeks later, on February 28, Petro replaced three members of his cabinet, including centrist education minister Alejandro Gaviria, whose criticism of proposed health reforms had leaked to the media.
Also sacked were sports minister Maria Isabel Urrutia and culture minister Patricia Ariza.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro gestures during the opening of an international conference on the political process in Venezuela held in Bogota on April 25, 2023. At the initiative of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, representatives of around twenty countries are meeting in Colombia on Tuesday to try to relaunch dialogue in neighboring Venezuela between the Chavista government of Nicolas Maduro and its opposition.
Juan BARRETO / AFP
After nine months in power, Petro has been unable to usher in the profound reforms in labor laws, healthcare, pensions and the judiciary that he promised during his campaign.
On Tuesday, the Liberal and Conservative parties, and the Social Party of National Unity (de la U) distanced themselves from the government, objecting to elements of his far-reaching reform plans.
Petro, for his part, called for an "emergency government... given that Congress was incapable of approving simple very peaceful articles" on equitable redistribution of land.
Two months ago, Petro urged his followers to take to the streets to pressure for congressional approval of the reforms. Speaking from the balcony of the presidential palace, Petro said he would not back down.
Weeks later, on February 28, Petro replaced three members of his cabinet, including centrist education minister Alejandro Gaviria, whose criticism of proposed health reforms had leaked to the media.
Also sacked were sports minister Maria Isabel Urrutia and culture minister Patricia Ariza.