International
Petro raises nine points to start the discussion about an eventual Constituent Assembly in Colombia
The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, proposed on Thursday nine points that he believes should be included in the discussion on the eventual convening of a Constituent Assembly, an idea that his Government has been thinking about for months.
“First of all, a constituent is the constituent power and the national agreement on the issues,” Petro said in his X account, a day after the liberal politician Juan Fernando Cristo, announced on Wednesday as the new Minister of the Interior, stated that his appointment was made with the purpose of seeking a national agreement that allows the exploration of a Constituent Assembly.
In that sense, the issues proposed today by Petro begin with the “immediate guarantee of the universal right to education, health and pensions,” followed by a “new territorial order.”
Thirdly, the president proposes to put into question “the economic and social development of the excluded territories,” and fourthly, “the agrarian reform.”
Petro’s agenda for this national discussion that may lead to a constituent also includes “adaptation to the climate crisis,” “reform of Justice,” “political reform” and “the pact for a productive economy.”
Finally, the president proposes “judicial truth and social forgiveness for a definitive peace,” which he considers could be the closure of the long period of the Colombian conflict, since the president not only has several peace processes open with illegal armed groups, but also considers that the State is not complying with the agreement signed in 2016 with the former FARC guerrilla.
Last March Petro proposed, during an event in Cali (southwest), the convening of a National Constituent Assembly if its reforms are not approved in Congress, starting from the idea that the people, as a primary constituent, want it.
Since then, that idea has been a reason for national controversy because the opposition considers that the 1991 Constitution contains the tools to make the necessary changes and therefore it is not necessary to reform it, and they see in Petro’s proposal an intention to seek re-election or extend his four-year presidential term that ends on August 7, 2026.
The discussion took force yesterday after Christ, confirming his appointment as Minister of the Interior, announced that he will seek agreements with the different forces of the country that lead to the convening of a constituent.
Cristo, a veteran politician who was a senator for 16 years and Minister of the Interior during the term of Juan Manuel Santos (2010-2018), assured in a statement that one of his fundamental purposes will be “the search for a true national agreement that allows the possibility of convening a Constituent National Assembly under the parameters of the Constitution of ’91 to be explored into the future.”
One of the first to reject that project yesterday was former President Iván Duque (2018-2022), who assured that an eventual convocation of a Constituent Assembly in Colombia seeks to perpetuate Petro in power.
“A National Constituent Assembly aims to perpetuate in power the current Government and the Historical Pact (official coalition). The ‘National Agreement’ is a facade to provoke an institutional rupture,” Duque said in his account of X.
Former President Álvaro Uribe (2002-2010), also rejected Petro’s plan and assured: “There is no reason for Colombia to have more delays and decades lost with constitutional uncertainty.”
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
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