A new chapter has opened in Colombia’s ongoing political crisis after President Gustavo Petro confirmed he will issue a decree to call a popular referendum on his labor reform proposal—despite Congress having already rejected the initiative.
Although lawmakers were preparing to approve a revised labor reform bill that aligns with the government’s agenda on several points, Petro dismissed it, stating, “It is not our law.” He reaffirmed his intent to bypass the legislature and take his original proposal directly to the public via referendum.
However, Colombia’s constitution requires congressional approval to hold such a referendum—a step that has already been denied. In response, the government is attempting to proceed by presidential decree, a move the judiciary has also ruled out as unconstitutional.
The political opposition has reacted with alarm, calling Petro’s plan a “coup d’état” and urging oversight institutions to intervene if he follows through with the decree.
Political turmoil in Colombia after Petro confirms decree referendum call
On Tuesday, June 3, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that he would issue a decree to call a popular referendum aimed at ratifying his proposed labor reform, which was shelved by Congress in March. The move has triggered a political storm, as the same initiative was also rejected by lawmakers in mid-May.
Petro justified the decision by alleging procedural irregularities during Congress’s handling of the referendum proposal. He also expanded the scope of the referendum to include new questions related to the healthcare system.
“That’s why I will decree the referendum. The Constitutional Court will undoubtedly decide. It may or may not rule in accordance with existing norms. (…) There was never a favorable ruling in the Senate—they cheated. And hopefully today’s Constitutional Court will help us rebuild the concept of the Social State under the rule of law,” Petro said during a televised address.
However, most political analysts argue that the president would be violating the separation of powers by disregarding decisions made by both the legislative and judicial branches.
Opposition accuses President Petro of attempted ‘coup d’État’
Opposition parties responded immediately to President Petro’s announcement. In a joint statement, eight political parties denounced the decision as a “coup d’état,” arguing that it overrides Congress’s prior rejection of the referendum proposal.
“The popular referendum via decree, disregarding the Senate’s decision, is a coup d’état. The political parties—Cambio Radical, Centro Democrático, Partido Conservador, MIRA, Colombia Justa Libres, Partido Liberal, Partido de la U, and Partido ASÍ—reject this unilateral and unconstitutional action by the Petro government,” the statement declared.
The opposition urged Colombia’s oversight institutions to review the presidential decree and assess its legality.
“We call on the competent institutions—the Constitutional Court, the Council of State, the Attorney General’s Office, the Comptroller General’s Office, and the electoral authorities—to act independently and in accordance with the Constitution and the principle of legality,” the parties wrote.
#NoALaConsultaPopulista Los partidos políticos que rechazamos la Consulta Popular en el Senado de la República, hacemos un frente común para enfrentar este rompimiento institucional que pretende realizar el Gobierno de Gustavo Petro y hacemos un llamado a las demás ramas del… pic.twitter.com/yWw3NSiZKp
— Cambio Radical (@PCambioRadical) June 4, 2025
Related: The Consequences of Petro’s ‘Non Politics’ for Colombia.