During the speech due to the dignity and democracy made in Ibagué on October 3, President Gustavo Petro publicly referred Keralty Sanitas EPS publicly, EPS, Despite the order given by the Council of State that forbade him to issue statements that could affect the honor of the company or its managers.
The judicial pronouncement, issued on September 29, had determined that the previous statements of the president “lacked foundations” and violated the fundamental rights of the company, especially those of its president, Joseba Grajales, whom Petro had pointed out of “criminal” during a public intervention on July 15.
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On that occasion, the Head of State said that “Keralty’s owner is a criminal in Colombia and must leave because here it is forbidden to finance campaigns with foreign moneys ”.
The decision of the State Council arose after a guardianship action filed by Keralty Sanitas EPS, in which the company argued that the president’s claims affected his institutional reputation and the integrity of his workers. In your failure, The High Court ordered the President to refrain from repeating statements of such, considering that they violate the right to good name and the presumption of innocence.
However, in his most recent speech at Ibagué, the president resumed criticism. During his speech, in the framework of mobilization for dignity and democracy, he said: “How do you think that 60 million pesos of the Colombian people who need for their peace, to build social justice, will be given to the owner of Keralty?”
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During his speech in Ibagué on October 3, Petro referred to Keralty despite the court order that asked him to refrain from doing so.
Presidency
The president also referred to other health system entities. He mentioned the owners of the new EPS and argued that “the health money in Colombia was parrace.” In the same scenario, he urged attendees to “not kneel” to what he called private interests in the sector.
The State Council ruling emphasized that the president’s expressions in his status as head of state have a particular impact on public opinion and, therefore, must be based on verifiable facts. The court recalled that official statements must be prudent and proportional, especially when referring to persons or companies that may be affected by their institutional authority.
After knowing the sentence, Keralty Sanitas EPS said in a statement that “It also claims the effort, integrity and commitment of our collaborators, who have continued working with conviction despite the adverse environment that we have faced as an organization”. The company also pointed out that it will continue to concentrate its efforts to guarantee the provision of health services to its affiliates throughout the country.
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Keralty Sanitas EPS said that his collaborators continue to work “with conviction despite the adverse environment” generated by the president’s statements.
EFE
President Petro’s new statements in Ibagué reactivated the debate on the limits of freedom of expression in the exercise of the position and scope of judicial orders against the public pronouncements of the president. The State Council had warned that, in case of recidivism, the legal consequences corresponding to the breach of a guardianship decision could be evaluated.
So far, the Presidency of the Republic has not issued an official pronouncement on the repetition of the criticisms of the Head of State towards Keralty Sanitas EPS. Meanwhile, political and legal sectors have indicated the need for judicial decisions and institutionality be maintained within the framework of the public debate.
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Diana K. Rodríguez T.
Portfolio journalist
