The show of division in Gustavo Petro’s cabinet could make the legislature difficult, the first left-wing government in the history of Colombia. The dismissal of three ministers from his cabinet belonging to the education, sports and culture portfolios came after a local media outlet published a letter addressed to the president by these ministers, in which they questioned the fiscal and budgetary impacts of a bill that seeks to expand The role of the State in the health system.
On the legislative agenda there are still other ambitious reforms such as pensions, land, or labor. However, the reform referring to the health system has aroused criticism from the opposition. The political risk analyst, Sergio Guzmán, spoke with RFI, remarking that this fracture in the Petro government can have consequences.
“Several of the ministers, in particular Minister Gavidia, who had been Minister of Health, have narrated that the reform seeks to persecute the private sector that offers health services, and that the majority of Colombians surveyed by the same government consider the management of their health to be very good. current health promoting company”.
The specialist adds that, with these changes, the Petro government wants to show a unified voice. “The government is sending a message not only to those who dissent within the cabinet, but also to the general public. The government wants to show, a unified voice. A cabinet rupture is a sign of instability, in other reforms that the government also plans to present in the course of this legislature.
Healthcare reform will be limited
Consuelo Ahumada, professor of social sciences at the Externado de Colombia University, agrees on the difficulty of approving the original text of the health reform. “The service is very deficient with the vast majority of people, especially those with fewer resources, that was seen in the pandemic. They are called insurers, but they don’t really insure anything.
For Ahumada, health resources come from the State and what private insurers do is manage those resources. “Yes, in all cases the reform will come out, but it will be limited. The strong parties that have senators will pass their own model, compare some controls, some measures. I don’t know to what extent they can take the business away from these private individuals”.
The Colombian president, for his part, assured that he respected the diversity of opinions within the coalition and showed unity with his colleagues from the center, liberals, and the moderate right.
