Colombia's Petro urges cabinet ministers to resign

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
26 Apr 2023 18:01

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, after facing difficulties in Congress over the health reform proposal, has urged cabinet ministers to resign ahead of the reshuffle.

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro talks during the international conference focused on Venezuela's political crisis in Bogota, Colombia, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. (AP)

After Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that he had lost his majority coalition in Congress, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday, that the president had requested his cabinet ministers resign ahead of reshuffle.

Petro's decision came after deep disagreement emerged in Colombia's House of Representatives when the debate on the president's contentious health reform was canceled due to a lack of quorum. Some members of the government's coalition warned they would vote against the original bill.

On Twitter, Petro said "The political coalition agreed as a majority has ended today due to decisions of some party presidents," and in a subsequent tweet added that "such a situation leads us to a rethinking of the government."

According to one source, the anticipated reshuffle is likely to result in the departure of some of the 18 ministers affiliated with Petro as well as the movement of others into various portfolios.

The reshuffle could see the departure of some of Petro's 18 ministers, as well as movements of others to different portfolios, said one of the sources.

Minister of Mines and Energy, Irene Velez, as well as a number of Petro's ministers, have faced strong criticism despite the president's continued support, however, the reform proposal had already resulted in the leaving of Education Minister Alejandro Gaviria.