CALI, Colombia: Colombian President Ivan Duque announced Friday he was deploying military troops to the city of Cali, as international alarm grows over the policing of deadly anti-government protests across the country in recent weeks.
Colombia sinks healthcare reform amid pressure from anti-government protests
May 19, 2021
Colombia’s Congress sunk a government-proposed health reform, dealing a major blow to far-right President Ivan Duque on behalf of anti-government protesters on Wednesday.
The health reform is the second major government reform bill to bite the dust after the president withdraw a loathed tax reform proposal earlier this month.
Health Minister Fernando Ruiz, who said he would resign if the reform didn’t make it through Congress, did not immediately respond to the congressional vote.
If Ruiz keeps his word, the health minister would become Duque’s third minister to resign under pressure from the protests that kicked off on April 28.