Petro Pushes Ahead with Labor Reform Referendum Despite Rejection in Congress of Colombia, Doubts About Legality

Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Saturday, June 7, that his Council of Ministers has been summoned to sign a presidential decree formally calling for a national referendum regarding the labor reform bill. The move comes despite the Colombian Congress having rejected the proposal on May 14, just after deciding that the bill would continue its process in the Senate.

Through his official account on X, Petro issued a surprising message to his ministers: “Any minister who does not sign the presidential decree will leave office immediately. Presidential power is the power of the people.” With this statement, he made clear there would be no delays in advancing what he considers is a direct democratic mechanism.

Ministro que no firme el decreto presidencial de inmediato se va.

El poder presidencial es poder del pueblo https://t.co/N7oWkE4iP6

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) June 7, 2025

The decision has sparked significant legal and political controversy. While President Petro argues that Congress failed to properly resolve the appeal filed regarding the vote, opposition leaders and legal experts have accused the him of overstepping his constitutional powers.

According to the government, the failure of Congress to address the appeal provides grounds for moving forward via executive decree. This appeal comes from a lawsuit filed by María José Pizarro, senator from Petro’s Pacto Histórico coalition, which questions the way in which the vote was closed. A court ruled that Senator Pizarro’s right to due process had been violated and ordered the president of the Senate to provide a formal response to her appeal within 48 hours.

Efraín Cepeda, President of the Senate (headline photo), however, maintains that the matter was resolved on May 21, prior to the court’s ruling, and has defended the legality of his actions. “The judge’s request had already been resolved at the time, and sharing that information would have prevented the need to request what had already been done, sparing certain government officials from the overwhelming enthusiasm that led them to produce videos, statements, and press releases that could surely have been reserved for a more well-founded matter,” Cepeda said via X.

Nonetheless, the court’s decision has added fuel to Petro’s push for a referendum, raising serious institutional questions.

Al parecer, los accionantes de la tutela pasaron por alto un detalle clave al informar al juez, pues la apelación interpuesta por la senadora María José Pizarro el 14 de mayo ya había sido respondida por el Senado de la República el 21 de mayo de 2025, lo que significa que la… pic.twitter.com/fxWOmCKS1H

— Efrain Cepeda (@EfrainCepeda) June 7, 2025

The president’s move has triggered harsh criticism from across the political spectrum. Senator Paloma Valencia of the Centro Democrático party responded to Petro’s message via X: “No, Mr. President. The power of the people is the rule of law, their democracy. What you’re proposing is the dream of tyrants who believe they alone represent the people and stand above all institutions,” she pointed.

In response to the unfolding crisis, Senate President Cepeda has filed an early warning with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The alert claims the government’s actions represent a “serious disruption of constitutional order” and threaten the principle of separation of powers. The petition has been supported by legal experts, including attorney Víctor Mosquera Marín and the foundation Derechos y Justicia Asociados.

Headline photo: Senate President Efraín Cepeda (Photo: Senado de la República)