Colombian President Gustavo Petro signaled that a cabinet shakeup is coming as he tries to get his ambitious reform agenda back on track after a series of legislative setbacks.
(Bloomberg) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro signaled that a cabinet shakeup is coming as he tries to get his ambitious reform agenda back on track after a series of legislative setbacks.
Petro made his comments in a speech and a series of late night posts on Twitter after lawmakers removed an article in his development plan that would allow the government to buy land for farmers as part of a peace deal with illegal armed groups.
“We have to install a government of emergency, given that congress wasn’t capable of approving some simple articles, very peaceful, that would have enabled more democratic use of land,” Petro said, in a speech in the south west of the country.
Such a government “doesn’t imply an emergency decree, but means that government workers work hard, day and night, every day, to achieve our objectives,” he said.
Colombia’s first leftist president is attempting to overhaul the nation’s conservative economic model by boosting worker rights and increasing the state’s role in health care and pension provision. But he’s faced stiff opposition, including from allies in congress and even from members of his own cabinet.
The peso dived during Petro’s first months in office, though it has recently pared losses as investors bet that his more radical plans will have to be heavily watered down. The currency has gained 5.8% this month as Petro’s troubles in congress increased, making it the best performer among major emerging markets.
Local media reported that Petro asked his cabinet to quit ahead of a likely reshuffle.
Read more: Leftist Colombia Government Suffers First Big Defeat in Congress
Also on Tuesday night, a congressional commission approved the text of a health bill that will be voted on following debates in both chambers. However, several key groups in congress, including Liberals, Conservatives, and the U Party ordered their members not to back the government-proposed initiative, in another blow for Petro.
In posts on Twitter, Petro attacked lawmakers “who have enriched themselves on public money”.
(Updates to add details from first paragraph.)
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