Colombian President Gustavo Petro speaks during his official visit to Haiti, January 22, 2025. Photo: Reuters/Marckinson Pierre.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s government is facing a political storm following several resignations, including by the minister of Culture and the head of the Administrative Department of the Presidency. In addition, a public call by former President Ernesto Samper for the entire cabinet to resign is raising tensions, which were visible in a televised cabinet meeting on Tuesday, February 4. In addition, former Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva has harshly criticized the Petro administration.
Juan David Correa, minister of Culture, Arts and Knowledge, announced his resignation in a public letter addressed to Petro. He highlighted advances such as the Five-Year Plan for Culture, the reform of the General Law of Culture, and emblematic projects such as artistic training in public schools and the recovery of the San José Galleon.
“I publicly reiterate my gratitude to President Petro for the invitation to work in the first progressive government of Colombia,” Correa wrote, without mentioning any reason for his resignation. His departure comes amid rumors of cabinet adjustments following internal controversies.
Another cabinet member to resign was Jorge Rojas, head of the Administrative Department of the Presidency, who called the television broadcast of the cabinet meeting a mistake. “It was bold, but wrong. I told the president that it could backfire,” he said.
A few hours later, Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo proposed a collective resignation of the cabinet to allow Petro to “reorient the administration.” He also criticized the use of the cabinet session to review a report already analyzed, “Public confrontations are not the way to resolve institutional differences.”
Former Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva, who was dismissed in March for alleged irregularities in the issuance of passports, issued a harsh statement, accusing Petro of losing sight of the “ethical horizon.” Without mincing words, he questioned the new foreign minister, Laura Sarabria, stating that “she lacks the personal qualities… and the necessary knowledge and intrinsic authority to represent the country, and to be taken seriously abroad.”
Leyva, who affirmed that he has not had any communication with Petro “for months,” concluded with a warning: “Is this the forecast of something more serious for which we Colombians must prepare ourselves?”
Former president Ernesto Samper (1994-1998) suggested a massive resignation of ministers to allow Petro to reorganize his team. In a social network post, he argued that the current crisis is not one of governability, but of “coherence and solidity of the cabinet.”
“The way to overcome it would be a collective resignation… leaving the president free to make the adjustments that he considers,” proposed Samper, suggesting that current Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo should be in charge of managing the process.
The trigger for this wave of criticisms and resignations was a tense cabinet meeting broadcast live on the night of February 4, where Petro reprimanded several ministers for alleged lack of coordination. During the meeting, the president pointed out officials for not aligning their actions with the government agenda.
The incident, described by Leyva as a “cruel reality show,” exposed fractures within a government that promised progressive unity but is facing wear and tear due to stalled reforms, scandals, and clashes among allies.
(Telesur)
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/BR/SC
