The Center for Higher Studies of the National Police (Cespo) was once again, this Tuesday, the epicenter of key decisions for the third year of government of President Gustavo Petro. The intense day of deliberations began at 11:00 in the morning, when the head of state arrived at the scene.
In this second day of conclavethe main topic of the discussion was to define the government’s goals and actions for 2025 in line with the objectives of the National Development Plan. Over there, Ministers, advisors and directors of entities presented their strategies and bets on the president who, although he listened to them attentively, also had space to participate in other national and international discussions through his X account.
Actions and challenges for fiscal sustainability
He president listened to the government’s strategy to carry out its legislative agenda this year in Congress at the same time that, through his X account, he congratulated his counterpart Joe Biden for his decision to remove Cuba from the list of countries promoting the terrorism, He taunted Donald Trump and attacked Attorney General Margarita Cabello. who leaves office this Wednesday.
This Tuesday five agencies came to the board: the ministries of Equality, Sports, Education, Labor and Agriculture. What remains to be done is Mines, Health and the peace departments, which are of special interest to the president within the framework of Total Peace. These will be exhibited tomorrow at Casa Nariño starting at 5:00 pm
“On this route, tomorrow we will also present, from the economic team, the postponement project for 12 billion pesos to each of the sectors“added Alexander López, director of the National Planning Department. The official noted that the cuts that are made to overcome the budget deficit that the Executive faces would not harm the most vulnerable.
(See more: ‘Flirt’ by the Petro government to the District to postpone some of the Metro payments)
Budget adjustments and education
For his part, the Minister of Education, Daniel Rojas, He ruled on the case of the headquarters of the National University of Tumaco, where a donation of $55,000 million was lost due to not contracting the work within the required time frame.
“With the new rector we have agreed that resources from the general budget of the nation will cover what the cooperator was going to put towards the construction of the headquarters of the National University in Tumaco,” Rojas declared.
Diego Guevara, Minister of Finance, had presented on Monday a draft of the austerity plan that seeks to optimize resources and reduce expenses to guarantee fiscal sustainability in 2025.. Among the highlighted measures of the document, which is available for comments until January 25, include limits on the hiring of personnel for the provision of services and a strict review of the resources assigned to each entity.
“Be very rigorous with spendingbut without impacting social spending. It is the great challenge of this year,” said Guevara.
(See more: Austerity plan: cut in contractors would be 30%)
Minister of Education at the Petro government Conclave, January 14 -2025
Changes in the cabinet sound
Although the high-profile ministerial shakeup was not an issue that was officially addressed, it has been a matter of informal and hallway conversations, even among the officials themselves, who have already come out to give statements. There is talk of the departure of six ministers.
The Minister of the Environment, Susana Muhamad, and Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo are the ones who make the most noise in the rattle. Although neither confirmed their departure, both hinted that their days in the cabinet could be numbered.
“We are in a consultation and evaluation process, but there is still no decision made,” he declared. Muhammad in the morning to W Radio. It is believed that the official would be seeking a seat in Congress.
For his part, Murillo, who is evaluating a possible presidential candidacy, was more reserved: “I am still reflecting,” he said in a previous interview with Blu Radio.
“If the president has said one specific thing, it is that whoever is going to leave for the 2026 elections should resign now.”. It’s something he says permanently. There are some who even wanted to leave since December,” a senior government official told EL TIEMPO.
*With information from EL TIEMPO
