The controversy over the economic and social emergency decree issued by the national government on December 22 continues to escalate on the political scene, just as the country enters the last week of the year.

A political control debate was scheduled for this Monday, December 29, in the Congress of the Republic; However, the ministers of President Gustavo Petro’s cabinet will not attend the summons.

The decision was made known after an extraordinary virtual session held last Friday, December 27, in which the Senate approved summoning all the ministers to explain the scope, foundations and consequences of the decree that declares the state of economic and social emergency in Colombia. However, the Executive decided not to attend, arguing that the legal times to respond to the questionnaire prior to the debate were not met.

The Minister of the Interior, Armando Benedetti, assured that the summons presents formal errors and does not respect the five-day period that, according to current regulations, ministers have to answer questions from Congress.

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According to Benedetti, the invitation sent by the Legislature arrived with inconsistencies in the date and does not contemplate the minimum term required by law.

“They cannot cite before the expiration of this term”said the head of the political portfolio, explaining that the Government considers it inappropriate to attend the debate under these conditions. The position would have been adopted jointly by all members of the ministerial cabinet.

The announced absence generated strong reactions in sectors of the opposition and Congress, which expected the Executive to be held accountable for a measure considered exceptional and with high economic and social impact. Some congressmen warned that, despite the absence of the ministers, the Legislature will advance in the analysis and political control of the decree.

The economic emergency decree empowers the Government to issue regulations with the force of law and make budget adjustments with the aim of facing a fiscal crisis that, according to the Executive, cannot be resolved with ordinary mechanisms.

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