Legislation
Colombia – Coljuegos president to be replaced
By James - 18 April 2023
Political infighting over health reform has led the Colombian President Gustavo Petro to order the resignation of the president of Coljuegos.
The information was revealed by W Radio via sources in the Department of the Presidency. The president’s request is part of a reshuffle as a number of vice ministers, affiliated with the El Partido de la Unión por la Gente (U), Liberal and Conservative parties have been asked to resign due to their failure to support his health reform bill.
Roger Carrillo, a member of the Conservative party, was only put in charge of Coljuegos in March 2023. Carrillo was nominated for the position by the president of the Conservative Party, Efraín Cepeda.
Carrillo’s appointment was controversial as he was caught up in the middle of a political scandal for an alleged case of impersonation. According to local press it was alleged that he posed as another politician called Roberto Pérez, who was a competitor for the same post as head of the board. Press reports say that Carrillo pretended to be Pérez and criticized the government in a statement in an alleged effort to get him out of the way in the fight for the post.
In February President Petro presented a controversial health reform to lawmakers which his government says will improve primary care, expand access to treatment, raise healthcare worker salaries and fight corruption. His plans to create a more state controlled system were met with opposition from members of his own cabinet who warned that the reforms would be too costly. This led to a cabinet reshuffle in March.
Colombia’s first leftist president took office in August 2022. His health reform is one of several key initiatives that he wants to push through to fight inequality.
