“We demand that Petro does not continue to impose reforms by force”: Miguel Uribe, opposition spokesman

led by senator Miguel Uribe Turbay the Democratic Center exercised, on behalf of the opposition, the right of reply after the Speech by President Gustavo Petroon Monday, February 27, in which he spoke about the social reforms that the national government is promoting.

“In a democracy, diversity of opinion is a value that I fully share. The reforms need a debate in society, a consensus within the government, and after being approved by Congress and by society itself, they need a lot of determination to implement them,” said declared the Head of State of the Casa de Nariño.

A day after the remarks, the opposition congressman expressed concern about the lack of debate and argument over the reforms and said they were justified on false premises.

“We demand that the president stop imposing his reforms by force. Give the country enough time for analysis and public debate. And to include social, trade union and citizen organizations in these discussions without silencing dissatisfied voices,” said Uribe Turbay.

Together with his fellow political party members, Ciro Ramírez and Christian Garcés, miguel uribe talked about the health reformthe most contested so far by various sectors of the country’s society.

On the health reformthe representative of Uribism pointed out that this is an initiative that will harm Colombians and affect the right of citizens to receive good medical care.

“There will be more delays in drug delivery and longer wait times for consultations and procedures. The freedom to choose EPS, doctors or health centers will end. We will be tied to a state monopoly. There will be no one to complain to, since the reform disperses the functions and dilutes the responsibility towards the user”, he argued in his speech of more than three minutes.

In his speech, the leader of the opposition had time to propose three measures to improve the health situation in the country: improve the working conditions of health personnel, strengthen preventive care and services in rural areas, and protect money allocated to health so that it does not depend exclusively on the state and is exposed to political intrigue and corruption.

Before finishing, miguel uribe also expressed concern about the pension reform proposed by the executive which, according to him, would transform the savings of the worker into a petty cash of the government and make young people lose the possibility of retiring.

“We warn that the disclosed labor reform will condemn Colombians to informality and unemployment. We understand the uncertainty and concern caused by these reforms. The government has played with the basic family basket, with their money, with their health, with their savings and now also with their jobs,” the senator said.

At one point they coincided Gustavo Petro there Miguel Uribe: search for areas of consensus. This is what the leader of the historic Pact did in his speech on Monday 27. “We will continue to seek consensus and agreements to consolidate and deepen our reforms. My cabinet and I, as President of the Republic, remain committed to implementing not only reforms, but reforms that significantly improve the lives of all Colombians.”

For his part, the activist Democratic Center He assured that “the opposition is willing to hold a proactive and sincere dialogue to reach consensus on the reforms that are being promoted in Congress”. Likewise, he called on President Petro to include social, trade union and citizen organizations in the discussions.

Finally, Uribe Turbay invited the political sectors to work together and assume their responsibility for opposition with the country and concluded by saying that “we want the changes to improve, but we are not prepared to accept the destruction of the achievements of the current system”, concluded Miguel Uribe.