Gustavo Petro requests the formal resignation of all his ministers and says that the government coalition has ended

( Spanish) — The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, requested this Tuesday the protocol resignation of his ministers to be able to make changes in his cabinet, a source from the Casa de Nariño told .

Petro’s decision was made known after the debate session on the controversial health reform was lifted in the House of Representatives this Tuesday night, as it did not meet the necessary quorum, amid threats from some parties in the Government coalition not to approve the original project.

Later, Petro reacted on his Twitter account about the stumbling block of the bill.

“The invitation to a social pact for change has been rejected. The political coalition agreed upon as a majority has ended today by decision of some party presidents. Some of whom threaten the majority of their own bench,” Petro wrote.

“Such a situation leads us to a rethinking of the government,” he added.

Petro had a coalition in Congress that approved a tax reform last year and aimed in general terms at approving the current projects, but the Liberal, U and Conservative parties said in statements posted on Twitter that they would not vote on the reform health proposed by the Government.

In addition to this reform, Petro is promoting a labor reform project and another to modify the pension system.

Several of Petro’s ministers, including Energy Minister Irene Vélez, faced harsh criticism, but the president has largely backed his officials.

However, the health reform led to the departure of the former Minister of Education, Alejandro Gaviria.

Hours before, the president made reference to the need for the Government to declare an emergency to move forward with the solutions that the Colombian people require.

“I think that the Government should declare an emergency. It means that day and night the Government teams are working on how to lower the price of food, on how to deliver land to the peasantry, on how to have more food planted and therefore lower prices, because this is a fundamental point of peace,” he said.

With information from Reuters.