Colombian Government in Turmoil as President Petro Demands Mass Cabinet Resignation

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has plunged his government into chaos after demanding the resignation of his entire cabinet, citing internal tensions and dissatisfaction with project delivery, Al Jazeera reports.

The dramatic move follows weeks of mounting pressure within the government, exacerbated by recent controversial appointments and a public rebuke of ministers by Petro himself.

The crisis reached a head on Sunday when Petro called for all ministers and senior officials to step down. Labour Minister Gloria Ramirez was the first to publicly announce her resignation via social media platform X, signaling the depth of the internal conflict.

The seeds of discord were sown with Petro’s recent cabinet reshuffle, particularly the appointment of Laura Sarabia, his former chief of staff, as foreign minister. This decision sparked significant backlash within the government, as Sarabia is currently implicated in a corruption investigation and has been linked to allegations of illegal wiretapping.

The appointment of Sarabia, who was previously embroiled in controversy that led to her temporary departure from government, came at a sensitive time as Petro was engaged in a diplomatic standoff with the US regarding migrant deportation flights.

Adding fuel to the fire, Petro subjected his cabinet to an unprecedented five-hour public reprimand on state television last week. He publicly criticized several officials, including the ministers of trade, education, and health, for failing to meet deadlines and deliver on crucial government projects.

Just prior to Petro’s demand for mass resignations, Susana Muhamad resigned from her post as environment minister, citing her opposition to the appointment of Armando Benedetti to the cabinet. Several other ministers have also expressed concerns about Benedetti’s inclusion, given allegations of violence against women and influence peddling leveled against him. Benedetti, a key aide to Petro, has denied the accusations, claiming that false stories are being circulated about him.

Beyond Ramirez and Muhamad, Culture Minister Juan David Correa and Jorge Rojas, the head of the state agency DAPRE (which manages significant state funds), have also resigned amidst the escalating crisis.