2023-04-27 15:28:38
The Colombian President, Gustavo Petro, he renewed seven ministries this Wednesday and surrounded himself with old political allies at a time when the government faces difficulties in Congress to approve its reforms, such as the one that seeks to reduce private participation in the health system. In power since August 7, Petro finds it difficult to deliver the deep changes he promised in the campaignand the traditional parties that supported the start of his government gradually distanced themselves over time in both chambers.
What are the Petro changes?
“Today a new cabinet is being built that will help consolidate the government programa program that will be the basis of a frank and sincere national agreement to continue working at the service of communities throughout the country,” said Petro in a statement in which he announced the replacements under the commitment to “seek the best living conditions for all citizens.”
Among the most important changes are those of the finance ministers, Jose Antonio Ocampo, considered a trusted name in the markets; the interior one, alfonso prada; and that of Health, Carolina Corkhighly criticized by some sectors for his health reform project that was partly the trigger for the ministerial crisis.
The ministers of Agriculture, Cecilia Lopez; Science, Arthur Moon; Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Sandra Urrutia, and Transport, William Reyes, criticized for the management of the air crisis in the country. The new ministers announced by Petro are: Finance, Ricardo Bonilla; Interior, Luis Fernando Velasco; Cheers, Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo; Agriculture, Jhenifer Mojica; Science, Yesenia Olaya; ICT, Mauricio Lizcano, and Transport, William Camargo.
Lizcano, who was director of the Administrative Department of the Presidency, was replaced by Carlos Ramón González. Many of the new ministers were Petro’s secretaries during the time he was mayor of Bogotá between 2012 and 2015as is the case of Bonilla, Jaramillo and Camargo.
Petro’s announcements came after a session in the Lower House in which the health reform was to be discussed was adjourned on Tuesday due to lack of quorum. The Colombian president was counting on the parties that supported him last year for the tax reform to also approve this project, but the Liberal, Conservative and Union for the People parties announced that they would not vote on the government’s project, which triggered the announcement of the end of the alliance
In addition to the health system reform, Petro is promoting a labor reform project and another to modify the retirement system. The health reform already caused the departure of three ministers in February, including Education Minister Alejandro Gaviria, after his criticism of the bill was leaked to the press.
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