Petro’s labour reform referendum suspended by Colombia’s Council of State | News

President Gustavo Petro sought to call a referendum, in a move, say it of the opposition violates the Constitution.

The Colombian Council of State suspended a decree of President Gustavo Petro who sought to call a Referendum on a work reformciting a lack of authorization from the Senate.

This decision on Wednesday comes after Petro last week bypassed the legislative opposition and signed a decree invoking voters in the ballot box in August to decide on the labor reform.

The package includes arrangements for an eight -hour working day, a higher weekend and vacation salary, and compulsory social security contributions from the delivery of the delivery application – key social policies that the left leader has made for.

The majority of social and economic reforms promised by Petro – which was elected in 2022 in promises of centuries on the right in the Andean country – were rejected by the legislators.

The decree aroused opposition criticism, which argued that Petro’s decree violates the political constitution of Colombia and destroyed the separation of the powers of the three branches of the country’s government.

Under Colombian law, the Senate must reign on the advice of referendums. If the referendum was to be held, each measure should be approved by the majority of at least 13.5 million voters, a third of the electoral list of Colombia, to be valid.

Political opponents also said that the expensive referendum really aimed to stimulate Petro’s party before the 2026 elections, when he cannot ask for his re -election.

Despite the inability to call a referendum, the Senate approved Tuesday a revised version of the labor reform bill after a vast debate, with 57 votes in favor and 31 against.

The Senate had previously rejected the reform bill in April, but it was relaunched after Petro warned that he would declare a referendum to put the measure to a public vote.

The presidency nicknamed the bill “a historic stage towards decent work” in an article on X shared by Petro.

Demonstrations have recently been organized in the capital Bogota and other major cities by defenders of Petro, who expressed their support for his proposed work reform.

Colombia is still in shock bombardment In the southwest of the country which left seven dead and an attempted assassination on the conservative opposition senator and presidential hope, Miguel Uribay TurbayThis aroused fears that the country could return to its darker days of assassinations and prolonged violence.