Through a statement, the President Gustavo Petro confirmed the departure of seven ministers from National government.
“Despite the fact that my cabinet, and its commitment to dialogue and the pact, was rejected by some traditional and establishment political leadership, we are going to persist with our program and our vocation for great national agreements,” President Petro reported on Wednesday April 26.
The Ministers of Finance, José Antonio Ocampo; Agriculture, Cecilia López; of the Interior, Alfonso Prada; of Health, Carolina Corcho; of Science, Arturo Luna; of Technologies, Sandra Urrutia; and Transportation, Guillermo Reyes.
As expected, the reactions to the ministerial shake they did not wait. Many voices against and others in favor of the decision made from the Casa de Nariño.
Among those who supported the changes of the ministers, congresswoman Maria Jose Pizarro and the councilor of Bogotá, Diego Cancino.
The first assured on her Twitter account that: “We won the elections to govern and legislate for Change, hand in hand with people and communities. I support the decisions regarding the cabinet of our partner, the President, Gustavo Petro”.
For his part, Cancino assured, in the same way:
“I know well more than one who claims to be with the Change and committed to progressivism and under the table they sell their principles to make money and win elections. Pdte is doing well by adjusting the cabinet with those who are consistent with the government program.
One of the most questioned names is that of Ricardo Bonilla, new Minister of Finance, who will replace José Antonio Ocampo in office. When this designation became known, the minister of that portfolio in the Government of Juan Manuel Santos, Mauricio Cárdenas, spoke about the challenges that the new official must face.
“Ricardo Bonilla must immediately make statements about: Adherence to the fiscal rule. Respect for the independence of Banco de la República and Superfinanciera. Support for Ecopetrol’s exploration activities. Otherwise, the dollar opens tomorrow above $5,000,” Cárdenas wrote.
Ricardo Bonilla He specialized in Andean multinational companies at the Andean Business School of the Andrés Bello Agreement in 1980. He completed his Master’s Degree in International Economics and World Change at the Rennes I University in France in 1990, and has taught at the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the National university of Colombia.
But many netizens criticized his arrival on Treasury due to the fact that he was investigated by the Comptroller General for his alleged fiscal responsibility in the case of the reduction in the rates of TransMilenio and the integrated public transport system (SITP).
“We went from José Antonio Ocampo to Ricardo Bonilla in the Ministry of Finance, it is that change can always be much worse. Poor country”, said the former representative, Juan Felipe Lozada.
Hours before the names of the new ministers of the national government were made official, Dove Valenciaopposition senator from Gustavo Petrohad referred to the presidential decision to request the formal resignation of the entire cabinet.
The senator from the Democratic Center, after learning of President Petro’s statements, pointed out that “the president’s political decisions show: one, there was no invitation to a pact for change, it was an undemocratic adhesion contract and alien to dialogue; two, they use the State to buy wills; and three, the arrogance of the government is proportional to the ignorance
Although Irene Velez He will continue to lead the Ministry of Mines, his departure was one of the most anticipated by various sectors of society. For example, the candidate for mayor of Medellín, Gilberto Tobón said, “What will have to happen for Irene Vélez to resign? It is already incomprehensible that such a controversial minister remains in office.
Another of the political figures awaiting Vélez’s departure was House representative Jennifer Pedraza, who trilled: “When she woke up, Irene Vélez was still there….”
