Colombia in turmoil as Petro demands mass cabinet resignations

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called for the resignation of his ministers and senior officials, deepening a government crisis just days after publicly chastising his Cabinet on live television.

“I have requested the resignation of ministers and directors of administrative departments,” Petro announced on social media platform X. “There will be some changes in the Cabinet to achieve greater compliance with the program ordered by the people.”

The demand follows a tense five-hour televised meeting last Tuesday, where Petro accused several ministers, including those responsible for trade, education, and health, of failing to deliver on key government projects. The public reprimand has since triggered a wave of resignations, raising further uncertainty about the stability of Petro’s administration.

On Sunday, Environment Minister Susana Muhamad became the second Cabinet member in a week to step down. Her departure follows that of Culture Minister Juan David Correa and Jorge Rojas, head of the state agency DAPRE, which oversees significant government funds. Muhamad, who was widely respected and played a key role in hosting last year’s UN COP16 biodiversity conference, was one of the few officials Petro praised during the contentious meeting.

Speaking to the online channel *Los Danieles*, Muhamad described her resignation as “difficult” and linked it to the involvement of Armando Benedetti, one of Petro’s closest aides, in state affairs. Benedetti, under investigation for illegal campaign financing in Petro’s 2022 election and accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife, was present at Tuesday’s meeting, a move that angered several ministers. “As a feminist and a woman, I cannot accept his presence,” Muhamad said.

Further concerns have been raised over Petro’s decision to appoint Laura Sarabia as foreign minister. A key ally with a rapid rise in government, Sarabia has been implicated in a major corruption investigation and an alleged illegal wiretapping case involving her nanny. Some ministers expressed unease over her appointment, which comes just weeks after she and other officials—including the ministers for finance, information, and transport—were sworn in.

Petro, Colombia’s first-ever leftist president, is facing plummeting approval ratings, and Muhamad had been seen as a potential candidate to succeed him when his term ends in 2026. With high-profile resignations and growing dissatisfaction within his ranks, his administration is now navigating one of its most turbulent moments yet.