Resignation of the Minister of Interior in Crisis
Juan Fernando Cristo, the Minister of the Interior of Colombia, tendered his resignation on Monday to re-enter political activity in anticipation of the 2026 elections. This announcement came on the heels of President Gustavo Petro’s call for the entire cabinet to submit their resignations as a matter of protocol.
Cristo, who assumed the position last July, penned a letter to Petro outlining his seven-month tenure and revealing that he had informed Petro of his decision to step down on Thursday amidst the cabinet crisis that emerged following contentious discussions at a ministerial council meeting two days prior.
In his letter, Cristo expressed his intention to leave his ministerial post to engage fully in political discourse and champion the aforementioned ideas outside of the government, although he did not specify his aspirations for the upcoming legislative and presidential elections.
The Liberal Party member, Cristo, advocated for the collective resignation of the entire cabinet last Wednesday, deeming it "unsustainable" in light of the televised ministerial council meeting that exposed deep-seated divisions within Petro’s administration.
"It is with these liberal and reformist ideas that we will be able to propel Colombia forward. We cannot afford to succumb to frustration and risk reverting to a past of political and social exclusion that breeds violence," Cristo emphasized in his letter to Petro.
Divisions within the Cabinet
One of the primary sources of discord stemmed from the appointment of the controversial former ambassador Armando Benedetti as the new Chief of Staff, a seasoned politician facing corruption charges and accusations of gender-based violence, yet staunchly supported by Petro.
Following the contentious ministerial council meeting on Tuesday, the subsequent days witnessed the resignations of Jorge Rojas, the director of the Administrative Department of the Presidency of the Republic (Dapre) and a close confidante of the president, as well as Juan David Correa, the Minister of Cultures.
Subsequently, Paula Robledo, the Legal Secretary of the Presidency, stepped down from her position, followed by the resignation of Susana Muhamad, the highly regarded Minister of the Environment within the cabinet.
On Sunday, Petro called for the formal resignations of all his ministers and other high-ranking government officials through a message on X, aiming to implement "some changes in the cabinet to achieve greater compliance with the program mandated by the people."
"The remaining time of your term will be crucial in realizing many of the government’s objectives. To achieve this in the year and a half left in your tenure, it is essential to prioritize and focus on the commitments outlined in the government program and the National Development Plan," Cristo highlighted in his resignation letter.
Despite the turmoil within his team, Petro embarked on official visits to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar last night, with plans to return to the country by the upcoming weekend.
These developments underscore a period of significant political upheaval and recalibration within the Colombian government, as the nation navigates the complexities of leadership transitions and strives to address pressing challenges on the horizon.
