Gustavo Petro chose no less than on May 1 for radical officially in the lower house of Congress the application for Colombians to vote in a popular consultation 12 questions related to the ambitious labor reform promoted by the president. “The Senate of the Republic has its right to decide, but What is going to be decided is not little mount“said the left -wing president during a one -hour speech in which Simón Bolívar’s sword was shielding as a symbol of a fight against the “Filibusterismo” and the legislative machinery that only “sign laws for the most powerful in Colombia.”
Petro, said the newspaper ´The spectator ‘, happened in this way “the ball to the Senate, with warning in between, to give the approval to the Last great commitment of its administration“Before the end of its period initiated in August 2022. The Government wants society to have the possibility to pronounce an eight -hour work on the right, a special pay during the Sunday or festive rest days, the workers of the workers to address medical problems and the hiring by the companies of at least two disabled by every 100 workers, among other matters.
Senators now count With a month to give the green light to the initiatoryto. Petro ruled out the rumors of an attempt to close the Congress If the senators turn their backs. “They believe that we are going to enter with a stampede, that we could. No sir, we are respectful of human freedom. But we are not assholes. Every our own name voting against the rights of Colombia must be shown and naked.”
The president returned to the Plaza Bolívar to go on the offensive. Acts were performed in other cities in the interior. “In all public squares, millions of people in support of the questions of the labor reform so that the Senate approves the popular consultation. Bolivar’s sword in the hands of the people.” The presidential proposal, he added, “has awakened the working class “. With the demonstration of force. Petro seeks, according to analysts, to condition a Senate with whom he does not have a good relationship. “For many today, With the presentation of the consultation, the fight begins“said the empty chair portal.”
In the text presented it is explained that senators have as a maximum period of June pronounce. In doing so in a favorable way, the popular consultation would be convened before September 1. The document records that there was a “RESIRE OF PUBLIC POETS“To address the issue of labor reform. It was the Senate who rejected the project, weeks ago.” Archive this initiative without allowing its discussion in substantial conditions equals to frustrate a structural public policy of social justice and ignore the State commitments with respect to the workers of Colombia. ” Legislative “.
The 12 questions disseminated days ago have been subject to corrections in order to gain support for opposition sectors. Petro has the vows of the ruling, the common party and some representatives of the Green Party. The main stumbling block is presented in part of the senators of the Liberal Parties, which has its own labor reform project, as well as the conservative parties, of the U, and the Democratic Center, the right -wing formation led by former president Álvaro Uribe.
“If the Senate does not make decision, I can issue the call for popular consultation by decree. If the consultation is made and the yes, on the threshold that the norm says, then the Congress has two constitutional periods to approve the laws that make the yes come true in the question. If Congress does not, the president does it by decree. That is the norm. That is the strength of the people and the importance of a massive popular decision, “said the Head of State.
