Colombian president reshuffles Cabinet, replaces 7 ministers

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Colombian President Gustavo Petro shook up his Cabinet on Thursday, replacing seven of 18 ministers hours after requesting the formal resignations of the entire group.

“We have decided to shape a government to redouble our agenda of social change at the service of the great majority of citizens and peoples of Colombia," he wrote on Twitter.

Petro asked for the resignations of the entire Cabinet late Tuesday as the government struggles to get health care, labor and pension reform approved by Congress.

He announced the dismissal of the finance, health, agriculture, interior, science, transportation and information and communications technologies ministers.

The ministers are part of political parties that announced they will not support the controversial health care reform promoted by the government.

It means the end of the coalition government with the Liberal, Conservative and La U parties, whose leaders agreed to approve legislation in Congress when the president took office in August.

But there have been disagreements on health care reform and complaints that the outgoing health minister has been unwilling to make changes to the legislation.

After nine months in power, Petro has been unable to pass the reforms he promised during his campaign.

Hours before asking for resignations, Petro issued a warning to officials.

"The government must declare an emergency. It must have officials whose heart is in favor of the humble people and not simply to earn a salary. Whoever is no longer capable of doing that has no place in our government," he said.

The Cabinet shakeup marks the most serious crisis since the beginning of Petro´s government.

The president dismissed Education Minister Alejandro Gaviria in late February after he expressed opposition to the health care reform.

He also dismissed Minister of Sports Maria Isabel Urrutia and Culture Minister Patricia Ariza.