Massive Protests in Colombia Against Government’s Reforms on Health, Pension and Laboure Laws

Recently, Thousands of individuals took part in protests in Colombia, expressing their dissatisfaction with President Gustavo Petro’s government and its proposed comprehensive changes to the nation’s health and pension systems, as well as labor laws.

These demonstrations coincided with challenges faced by Colombia’s first leftist president in maintaining unity within his congressional coalition and a decline in his approval ratings, exacerbated by an escalation of violence between rebel groups in certain regions of the country.

Moreover, a corruption scandal involving two members of Petro’s close circle has put the government on the defensive. The president now faces allegations that his campaign received undisclosed donations.

“This government is going to take us back decades,” remarked Jimmy Rosero, a retired army officer who participated in the march in Bogota, carrying a 40-foot-long Colombian flag. ” We don’t want any of its reforms to be approved by Congress.”

Petro assumed office a year ago after extensive protests against social and economic inequalities that were exacerbated during the pandemic.

Petro made campaign promises to establish peace agreements with remaining rebel groups and to enhance access to healthcare, university education, and formal employment in Colombia.

However, Petro’s Historical Pact party did not hold a majority in congress. In order to govern, Petro formed alliances with traditional center and right-wing parties, granting them positions in the Cabinet in exchange for their support in congress.

The coalition, which encompassed diverse ideological perspectives, started to fracture this year due to disagreements over proposed legislation aiming to reform Colombia’s health system. The reform intends to centralize insurance payments under a government agency, sidelining the involvement of current insurance companies that handle a significant portion of the market.

Petro argues that the reform would simplify hospital reimbursements for the government and enable increased investment in healthcare centers located in remote rural areas. However, opponents argue that the government lacks the capacity to effectively administer the billions of dollars involved in insurance payments.

Currently, the health reform is at a standstill in congress, facing opposition from opposition parties and former members of Petro’s coalition. Likewise, a labor law that seeks to impose stricter regulations on the use of temporary contracts by employers is encountering difficulties in securing sufficient votes in both the senate and the lower house.

Ivan Diaz, a psychologist who owns a small empanada stand in a working-class area of Bogota, expressed concerns about the government’s proposed labor law, fearing that it would compel him to lay off one of his two employees. The law mandates employers to pay additional fees for any work conducted after 6 p.m.

Diaz stated “We are just recovering from the pandemic, and the government wants to give us more burdens. I want to believe in Colombia, but it is very hard like this.”

Petro remains determined to push forward with his reform agenda, asserting that it represents a popular mandate that is now endangered by the country’s economic elite.

Earlier this month, a pro-reform march organized by the government drew thousands of participants. However, the president’s approval ratings have recently declined as some Colombians appear to be less focused on social and economic reforms and more concerned about issues such as security.

According to a poll conducted by Invamer in May, 73% of Colombians believed that things were worsening, compared to 48% in August of the previous year. In a November poll conducted by the same company, Petro received a 50% approval rating, which dropped to 34% in the latest poll conducted in April. The margin of error for the recent poll was plus or minus 5 percentage points.

According to Sergio Guzman, a political analyst based in Bogota, the government’s failure to make adjustments to its reforms has prevented it from building bridges with opposition parties.

Guzman noted “The government is insisting in an all or nothing approach to its agenda. And that has alienated members of the coalition, that came from traditional parties.”

Meanwhile, President Petro’s efforts to establish peace with rebel groups have yielded mixed results. In December, Petro offered ceasefires to two armed groups, but they collapsed as attacks on civilians persisted. A third ceasefire with the largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army, is scheduled to commence in August.