Colombia's president bypasses lawmakers and issues decree to let voters decide on labor reform
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday bypassed legislative opposition and signed a decree summoning voters to the polls in August to decide changes to the country's labor laws, including whether workdays should be limited to eight hours.
The decree fulfilled Petro's threat to Congress to put his labor system overhaul before voters should senators not approve the 12-question referendum themselves. He issued the measure in a tense political climate following the Saturday shooting of opposition senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay during a public event.
The referendum has become the crux of long-running tensions between the executive and legislative branches.
After Congress rejected Petro's labor reform twice, most recently in March, he sent lawmakers a 12-question referendum proposal on May 1 as Colombian law requires that the Senate rule on the advisability of referendums. The legislative body two weeks later voted 49-47 against the measure, prompting Petro to accuse lawmakers of fraud.
Petro, Colombia's first leftist president, has accused Congress of working against the interest of workers and has asked them to demonstrate across the country.
The referendum's questions include whether workers should receive double pay if they work during holidays; whether daytime workdays should end at 6 p.m.; and whether open-ended contracts should be offered to workers to prioritize job stability.
The disagreements between Petro and Congress date back to the start of his term in 2022, but they have heightened as he seeks to consolidate his legacy ahead of next year's legislative and presidential elections.
Uribe remained in critical condition Wednesday following his shooting in broad daylight Saturday during a political rally in the capital, Bogota. Authorities investigating the motive have not ruled out the possibility that it was a targeted attack on the opposition. They are also considering whether it was an attempt to destabilize the current government, or retaliation by illegal armed groups.
In anticipation of court challenges, Petro on Wednesday said his government will send the decree to Colombia's Constitutional Court for review. At the same time, the Council of State is considering a lawsuit seeking to annul the Senate's vote.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Panama cuts internet, cell phones in restive province
Panamanian authorities on Saturday partially suspended internet and mobile phone service in a western province where a state of emergency was in effect after two months of anti-government unrest. Right-wing President Jose Raul Mulino declared the emergency on Friday, suspending freedom of assembly and movement in Bocas del Toro province, where protesters have set up roadblocks and damaged the airport, businesses and offices. The National Authority for Public Services said on X that based on the emergency decree, "the temporary suspension of mobile phone and residential internet service has been coordinated in the province of Bocas del Toro until June 25." Internet service would remain available for health care, businesses and government entities, the agency said. Anti-government protests began almost two months ago in the major banana-producing region of Bocas del Toro. They turned violent Thursday in the city of Changuinola when groups of hooded individuals looted businesses and partially set fire to a baseball stadium with police officers inside, authorities said. The unrest has seen one dead, more than 100 arrested, and dozens injured, including 13 police officers, according to authorities. Mulino has been facing protests on several fronts in recent months. Workers with US banana giant Chiquita in Bocas del Toro went on strike in late April over pension reforms adopted by Congress, which critics say will force them to work longer. Chiquita sacked thousands of workers over the strike. The banana growers' unions called off their protest last week in a bid to reverse the layoffs but other groups have remained at the barricades. Besides the pension reforms, Panamanians have also been in the streets over a deal Mulino struck with US President Donald Trump in April allowing US troops to deploy to Panamanian bases along the Panama Canal. The US Embassy in Panama issued a security alert Friday prohibiting American government staffers from traveling to Bocas del Toro "until further notice." cmm/mis/dg/cls/dth/acb/bjt
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Utah lieutenant governor confirms labor union referendum will go on the state's ballot
The signature gathering effort for the referendum against Utah's collective bargaining ban can now officially be declared successful as the referendum has been approved to go to a public vote. On Saturday, Utah's Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson sent out a press release officially declaring that the referendum against HB267 has fulfilled the requirements necessary to get on the ballot in Utah. In order for a referendum to get on the ballot it requires verified signatures from at least 8% of registered voters in the state and 8% of voters in at least 15 of the state's 29 senate districts. The law passed during this year's state legislative session and after the session ended a group of public labor unions against HB267 came together to form the Protect Utah Workers coalition. The coalition then submitted a referendum application and then launched a massive signature gathering effort. A total of 251,590 signatures were verified. 'County clerks have processed the submitted signatures and removal forms, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor has reviewed and certified the final count,' according to the release from Henderson's office. 'The HB 267 referendum fulfilled the requirements described above and will be submitted to the voters of Utah for their approval or rejection.' It has not yet been confirmed when the referendum will go on the ballot, but it is assumed it will go to vote during the 2026 general election. It is possible that a special election could be called earlier. Last month, Henderson issued a temporary stay of the law which would ban public sector collective bargaining in Utah. Without the temporary stay HB267 would go into effect on July 1.
UPI
a day ago
- UPI
Colombia joins BRICS-backed bank in shift toward new financial order
June 20 (UPI) -- Colombia's recent entry into the BRICS-backed New Development Bank marks a significant shift in its foreign and economic policy. With the move, President Gustavo Petro's administration aims to reduce the country's long-standing reliance on Western financing and attract new investment for strategic infrastructure projects. "Colombia officially joins the BRICS New Development Bank. This membership opens new financing opportunities for strategic projects and is a key step toward diversifying alliances and strengthening the country's economy," the Colombian presidency announced Thursday in a post on X. Colombia's membership involves an initial $512 million commitment and makes it the first South American nation to formally join the bank, which is backed by 11 BRICS full members, including China, Russia, India, South Africa and Brazil. Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia welcomed the announcement, saying the move goes beyond financial strategy and reflects broader national goals. "We continue to pave the way for new opportunities for the country," she wrote on X. Beyond access to loans with fewer conditions, the move carries significant symbolic weight. It reflects the Petro administration's interest in redefining Colombia's international role, shifting away from the traditional Washington-Bogotá axis to pursue a more independent path aligned with the Global South. The announcement has sparked both enthusiasm and skepticism among Colombian analysts, who warn of financial risks, geopolitical consequences and the delicate balance Bogotá must maintain with the United States, its primary trading and military partner. The Petro government has defended the move as a pragmatic step amid global economic volatility and the weakening of the traditional multilateral order. Officials also see it as an opportunity to advance strategic projects such as the interoceanic railway -- an ambitious infrastructure initiative aimed at positioning Colombia as a commercial hub between Asia and the Caribbean. Colombia's Foreign Ministry and Finance Ministry officials emphasized that joining the New Development Bank does not signal a break with the Inter-American Development Bank or the International Monetary Fund. "This is about having more options, not replacing allies," Finance Minister Ricardo Bonilla said. Still, reactions in Colombia remain divided. While lawmakers from the ruling coalition praised what they called the country's "financial emancipation," opposition groups and business associations raised concerns about the fiscal burden and reputational risks of aligning with a bloc that includes China and Russia. "Do we want to depend on the yuan or the ruble? What guarantees does a bank dominated by authoritarian regimes offer?" conservative senator and former presidential candidate Enrique Gómez asked. Colombia has long been one of the United States' closest allies in the fight against drug trafficking and in supporting the liberal economic model promoted by Washington. Against that backdrop, closer ties with China have raised tensions. The U.S. State Department has said it will firmly oppose financing for Latin American projects tied to China's Belt and Road Initiative, a global investment strategy backed by Beijing that aims to expand its economic influence through critical infrastructure development around the world. Founded in 2015, the New Development Bank aims to provide financing for infrastructure and sustainable development in emerging economies, with fewer political conditions than the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank. To date, it has approved more than $40 billion in funding for 122 infrastructure projects in sectors such as transportation, clean energy and sanitation.
