Colombian President Advocates for Referendum on Health and Labor Reforms
Colombian President Gustavo Petro plans a special election for citizens to decide on stalled labor and health reforms. He criticized Congress for obstructing these changes, urging supporters to mobilize. The proposed referendum, known as a ‘popular consultation,’ requires Senate approval to proceed.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced plans to hold a special election aimed at allowing citizens to approve or reject proposed labor and health reforms that have stalled in Congress. In a nationally broadcast speech, he accused the Senate of undermining democracy by siding with the elite and dismissing these critical reforms.
With a robust show of support from activists and pro-government politicians, President Petro urged his supporters to rally behind these reforms. He emphasized, “We have searched in our constitution for a path that will enable people to make decisions without intermediaries.”
Petro’s reform initiative follows a statement from a group of eight senators announcing their intention to vote against the health reform proposal in an essential committee meeting. The president’s attempts to advance legislation have been hindered by his party’s lack of a congressional majority.
During his 2022 presidential campaign, Petro pledged to revamp Colombia’s health system by eliminating current insurance companies involved in mandatory social security functions, establishing a government entity to manage these funds instead. He has criticized these companies for mismanaging significant sums of money.
However, the legislative response to his health reform has been consistently negative, with opponents arguing it could lead to excessive bureaucratic control and claiming the government lacks the capacity to manage millions of patients.
In addition, President Petro is striving to implement labor reforms aimed at raising wages for night workers and restricting the hiring of employees on short-term contracts. The proposed “popular consultation” requires approval from a majority of the Senate and mandates that at least one-third of registered voters participate for the results to be valid.
President Gustavo Petro’s initiative to hold a special referendum on stalled labor and health reforms highlights the ongoing tensions between his administration and the Colombian Congress. Faced with legislative opposition, Petro seeks to empower voters directly to influence pivotal reforms. The success of this proposal hinges on Senate approval and active public engagement in the subsequent consultation.
Original Source: www.newsday.com
