Colombia’s president calls for a referendum on health and labor reforms that stall in Congress
Bogota, Colombia (AP) – Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Tuesday he will call for a special election where voters will be able to approve or reject labor reforms and health reforms that have been stalled in Congress for months.
In a nationally televised speech, Petro accused the Colombian Senate of “blazing” voters and relocating with the country’s “oligarchy” by efforts to refusal to reform the national labor law and its health system.
Petro stood behind him with dozens of activists and pro-government politicians calling on his supporters to mobilize in favor of the government’s reforms.
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“We have looked in the Constitution for a path that will allow people to make decisions without intermediaries,” Petro said. “Now, people have to decide whether they want to be slaves or whether they want to be free and respected.”
Petro’s proposal came hours after eight senators issued a statement saying they would reject the president’s health reforms in a vote on the key committee.
The President of Colombia often strives to pass legislation passed by the U.S. Congress, where his party lacks a majority.
During the 2022 presidential campaign, Petro promised that he would change Colombia’s health system by eliminating insurers that handle mandatory Social Security payments and put government agencies in charge of managing the funds.
PETRO accuses insurance companies of inappropriate millions of dollars. But lawmakers have rejected his health reform several times, which they believe will give government bureaucrats too much power and say the government is not able to manage millions of patients.
Petro, a leftist who has long advocated more government intervention in the economy, has also been working to reform labor through Congress. He proposed increasing night workers’ salaries and making it harder for companies to hire workers to work in short-term contracts.
The special elections the president calls for are called “popular consultation” in Colombian legislation. To proceed, it must be approved by most Columbia Senate. In consultation, voters must be asked questions that have “yes and answers”. At least all registered voters must participate in the consultation results to carry out the results.
