The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, announces that he will call for a popular consultation for the people to decide on health and labor reforms, which are stalled in Congress, with the aim of overcoming the 'institutional blockade' that he says is present in the Legislative.
In a speech to the nation, Petro pointed out the need for the people to make decisions regarding these reforms. He explained that the laws establish the procedures and deadlines for conducting a popular consultation, and reiterated that the intention is to institutionally unblock the country through this constitutional mechanism.
The president expressed his discontent with the decision of eight members of the Seventh Commission of the Senate to propose filing the labor initiative, which he considers an attempt to 'deceive' and obstruct the proposed reforms. He highlighted that the opposition has created an institutional blockade that goes against the popular will expressed in the 2022 elections.
Petro emphasized the benefits of the labor and health reforms and criticized the senators of the Seventh Commission for, according to him, siding with the rich instead of supporting the workers. In light of the failure of a national agreement that he had proposed as an alternative, the president believes that real democracy involves consulting the people directly.
In this context, the call for a popular consultation is presented as a response to what Petro qualifies as an 'institutional blockade' that he considers a dictatorship against the popular vote, and he argues that real democracy is the best way to overcome this situation.
