2024-07-21 14:10:09
President Gustavo Petro has flatly denied accusations that the government has bought off congressmen to approve social reforms submitted to the legislature.
From the port of Buenaventura, the president addressed the allegations made by the former director of the National Disaster Risk Management Unit (UNGRD), Olmedo López, calling them unfounded.
«Those who were accused of corruption, for stealing funds intended for health to finance the paramilitaries, call us corrupt. They claim that we are financing the ELN.showing a contract that supposedly financed this group, without realizing that the money never left because this President dismissed Olmedo López from the UNGRD. If not, that money would have ended up in the hands of criminals. Who prevented that? This Pechito,” said Petro, referring to himself in the third person to highlight his role in the situation.
President Petro stressed that his administration has not bribed congressmen to obtain the necessary support for social reforms. «They say that we are buying congressmen to approve laws. Which one? The Pension Reform took two years and the one who delayed it the longest is the one who supposedly received a suitcase with $3 billion. Where is the health reform? It was sunk by those who apparently did receive money from a company called Keralty, owner of Colsanitas. Where is the labor reform that dignifies the working people? Has it even been approved?», he questioned.
You can read: “When I see a corrupt person I throw him out of the Government, but I have to defend honest people like the Minister of Finance”: Petro
Petro argued that if these reforms have not been approved it is precisely because his government has not bought congressmen.in contrast to the speed with which laws were passed to privatize the State under previous administrations. “The thief judging by his condition,” he added, referring to his critics.
Addressing Olmedo López’s accusations again, the president explained that the people named in the complaints belong to the Interparliamentary Credit Commission, which is responsible for approving debts, not legislating.I hope they are lies, but that commission only approves us to go into debt to pay the debts inherited from the previous Government. “What do they want, for us not to pay our debts and for them to close down international markets for us?” he asked rhetorically.
«I hope no congressman has received indicative quotas, but if he did, he will go to jail. The President’s order is that this is not to happen, that the relationship with the congressman is about arguments. If he wants, he can govern with us, but not to steal the treasury but to give the treasury to the people,” he concluded.
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