Bogotá, Colombia.- The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, requested on Tuesday the formal resignation of his Ministers to reorganize his cabinet, reported two government sources, at a time when the President is struggling with decisive political, economic and social reforms in The congress.
Petro, a 63-year-old economist, completes more than eight months as the first President of the left in the history of the South American country.
The reorganization would imply the departure of some of the 18 Ministers, as well as the change of others to different portfolios, said one of the sources who requested anonymity.
Petro’s decision was made known after the debate session on the controversial health reform was lifted in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night because it did not meet the necessary quorum, amid threats from some parties in the Government coalition not to approve the original project.
Later, Petro reacted on his Twitter account about the stumbling block of the bill.
“The invitation to a social pact for change has been rejected. The political coalition agreed upon as a majority has ended today by decision of some party presidents. Some of whom threaten the majority of their own bench,” he wrote. the mandatary.
“Such a situation leads us to a rethinking of the government,” he added.
Petro had a coalition in Congress that approved a tax reform last year and aimed in general terms at approving the current projects, but the Liberal, U and Conservative parties said in statements posted on Twitter that they would not vote on the reform health proposed by the Government.
In addition to this reform, Petro is promoting a labor reform project and another to modify the pension system.
The Minister of the Interior, Alfonso Prada, could move to the Defense portfolio, while others with Health, Carolina Corcho, would remain in their positions, one of the sources specified.
Petro’s communications team did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Several of the Petro Ministers, including Energy Minister Irene Vélez, have faced harsh criticism, but the president has largely backed his officials.
However, the health reform led to the departure of former Education Minister Alejandro Gaviria.
Hours before, the President made reference to the need for the Government to declare an emergency in order to carry out the solutions required by the Colombian people.
“I think the government should declare an emergency,” he said.
“It means that government teams are working day and night on how to lower the price of food, on how to deliver land to the peasantry, on how to have more food planted and therefore lower prices, because this is a fundamental point of peace.” .
