Colombia: faced with opposition from Congress, the president proposes constitutional reform

2024-03-16T18:05:59.318Z

Highlights: Colombian President Gustavo Petro proposed on Friday March 15 to reform the Constitution, which dates from 1991. First left-wing president in the history of the country, in power for 18 months. Petro wants to reform health system, the pension system and labor law. But the Congress, where the right is in the majority, does not follow. The hard right, when it was in power, often wanted to wring its neck. But in opposition, this same right opposes any reform project, constitutional or otherwise.

In Colombia, Gustavo Petro proposed on Friday March 15 to reform the Constitution, which dates from 1991. The first left-wing president in the country's history, in power for 18 months, Gustavo Petro wants to reform…

Colombia: faced with opposition from Congress, the president proposes constitutional reform

In Colombia, Gustavo Petro proposed on Friday March 15 to reform the Constitution, which dates from 1991. First left-wing president in the history of the country, in power for 18 months, Gustavo Petro wants to reform the health system, the pension system and labor law.

But the Congress, where the right is in the majority, does not follow.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro (right), during a meeting in Cali, March 15, 2024. AFP - JOAQUIN SARMIENTO

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Bogota,

Marie-Eve Detoeuf

An outcry on the right, perplexity on the left.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro

's short sentence

, suggesting a National Constituent Assembly, had the effect of a small bomb.

“

If the institutions we have today in

Colombia
are not capable of carrying out the social reforms that the people have decreed through their vote (...) then Colombia must go to a National Constituent Assembly

,” he said. he declared, during a demonstration by indigenous supporters in the southwestern city of Cali.

The 1991 Constitution is on paper very progressive.

The hard right, when it was in power, often wanted to wring its neck.

But in opposition, this same right opposes any reform project, constitutional or otherwise.

She accuses Gustavo Petro of wanting to establish a dictatorship.

The left and the center have always defended the 1991 Constitution. They find themselves a little at odds and are trying to find out if the president spoke seriously.

For many, Mr. Petro's difficulties do not derive from the Constitution, but from his messy management and the play of political, economic or media counter-powers.

Analysts are wondering: if the president does not have a majority to pass his social reforms, how does he plan to pass a new Constitution?

Colombia: faced with opposition from Congress, the president proposes constitutional reform

Colombia: faced with opposition from Congress, the president proposes constitutional reform

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