2023-10-14 07:10:32
She is the only one from the Dignidad Party in Congress. Although she voted for President Petro in the second round, since he began her government she has maintained independence. She is Jennifer Pedraza, the House representative who came to the Legislature as a primiparous person at the age of 26 and has become one of the revelation female voices. In dialogue with EL COLOMBIANO, she spoke about her experience as a feminist in a field dominated by men, the health reform and her political disappointments.
How are you doing as a critical voice after supporting Petro in the 2022 second round?
“We have been introducing independence in Congress because traditionally we were accustomed to them being the government bench and the opposition bench with previous governments. However, in this government I believe we have had an opportunity to raise serious, sustained and rigorous criticism of the government without insisting on the political forces that are from the past.”
You have been aware of the health reform, are you still firm in your objections?
“In this, President Petro is very similar to Daniel Quintero: anyone who criticizes them is a Uribista and financed or paid by the EPS. They presented a reform that is not clear about who is going to make the health system contracts: who is going to hire the drugstores, hospitals and other health system operators. It is a very delicate reform and they want us to remain silent. It has been an absolutely arrogant and undemocratic attitude because it persecutes those who think differently. “What they criticized so much about Uribism.”
Have you seen self-criticism in the reform’s speakers?
“With the issue of hiring, there has been no human power to make the speakers explain. The accidental commission almost broke up because one of the speakers pointed out that those of us who had criticism could be complicit with the EPS, that they could put people’s health at risk and that we had to shoulder that responsibility. “Marta Alfonso said it.”
Do you think the political cost of this reform has been high?
“The president wants to give the news that his reform has passed. We have proposed that they do a study derived from the new tasks that the reform gives to the EPS and pay their administrative costs. That is fair, but there must be technical support because we are talking about the money of the health of Colombians. Every time the reform is going to be discussed and voted on, ministers representing parties move.”
In that way?
“The plenary session is filled with ministers. Last time the Minister of Housing (Catalina Velasco), close to the Liberal Party, was there talking with all of her congresswomen in the plenary session. The Minister of ICT, Mauricio Lizcano, close to the U Party. The Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Health, even Jaime Dussán was there. The government has committed to approving its reforms as previous governments have done.”
What do you think is the most worrying thing about this project?
“The reform has some positive things, such as the direct shift that would allow speed in the provision of services and improve the working conditions of health personnel. The problem is that we have to propose a transition in which the provision of services is not interrupted. “Talking about a strengthening process that will require time and money, but what reform does not bring is time or money.”
What do you think of the health system?
“It has some achievements in terms of membership, but we have a problem in remote areas and a serious infrastructure problem. There is a problem of inequality because there are more than a thousand municipalities without a delivery room. “I’m not happy with how the system operates.”
What do you think of the work that the EPS have done in these 30 years?
“It is difficult to replace them. When we were building the presidential program with Jorge Robledo, we thought about how we could move forward in terms of health. There were those who said that the EPS had to be eliminated, but others stated that it is difficult to replace them from one moment to the next because we have been concentrating their work for 30 years and learning everything that goes into managing the system takes time.
How do you see the government with the gender and women’s promises?
“That was one of the main reasons why I decided to vote for Petro in the second round and one of the main reasons I was disappointed. My first conversation with the president was that from his social networks he reproduces messages against women who report being victims of sexual harassment and abuse by his senior officials. The president falsely claimed that Hollman Morris had been found innocent. We had the case of Víctor de Currea -Lugo and that of Minister Mauricio Lizcano.”
Is it difficult to be a feminist in politics?
“Very difficult. In the country you will find that the majority of women identify with these causes even if they do not identify as feminists. But there is a feminism that is in the mood of supporting any decision that the Government makes because it is “left”. I have received criticism, but I believe that the feminist movement has been the one that has maintained its independence the most. Cielo Rusinque has never been part of the feminist movement, she has always been on the side of those accused; Mafe Carrascal, who puts on her purple and green scarves, congratulated Hollman Morris when he was appointed to RTVC.”
What do you think has been the main achievement of this Government?
“What I value most about the Government is that it is building the National Care System. It would be a structural transformation if women in the country dedicate fewer hours of our lives to unpaid care tasks. “I’m talking about political participation, access to education, paid employment, art and culture and rest.”
And the main debt?
“That people expected that we would not be faced with a corruption scandal every 15 days, such as alleged illegal campaign financing, and that the Pact supports the usual corrupt people. As well as the relations that the president has with the traditional parties, which he is paying for.”
How is Dignity and Citizen Commitment (Renace) going to play in the regional elections?
“We want to show that the alternative sector is not limited to Petro, that it is not Petro or Uribe, which is what they have wanted to get us into for the last eight years, but that Colombia deserves other paths.”
In Antioquia, how are they moving?
“One of my colleagues from the student struggle goes to the Assembly, which is Alejandra Sánchez, in a fight to feminize the Assembly. Here in Medellín, there are also feminist leaders on our list like Manuela Restrepo and Natalia Zuluaga, as well as youth leaders like Esteban Jaramillo.”
22.809
were the votes that Pedraza obtained to obtain a seat in the House of Representatives.
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