The Colombian Senate convened an extraordinary session on Friday, breaking its legislative recess to scrutinize President Gustavo Petro’s controversial declaration of an economic emergency.
Senate President Lidio Garcia called the session for 10:00 a.m., setting the stage for a constitutional clash between the legislative and executive branches. While the official agenda includes voting on military and police promotions, the session is widely expected to pivot to “political control” regarding the government’s recent decree, a move detractors claim was timed to bypass immediate judicial review.
The decision to sit during the holiday break follows days of heated public exchanges between Senator Garcia and cabinet officials, specifically Interior Minister Armando Benedetti and Labor Minister Antonio Sanguino. Garcia has framed the session as a defense of institutional autonomy. “Congress is not a ‘dead cow.’ It is a living institution, conscious of its duties and responsible to the Constitution and the citizens,” Garcia wrote on social media platform X. “Defending its autonomy does not block reforms; it protects democracy.”
The Senate President rejected accusations from the executive branch that the legislature is being manipulated by external political interests, stating, “Here there are no strings, there is institutional responsibility.”
The Petro administration argues that Colombia’s Senate cannot legally review the economic emergency
The Petro administration has argued that the session is both premature and procedurally flawed. Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, a former member of Congress for two decades, warned that the legislature cannot legally review the economic emergency declaration until the government officially submits its report on the measures, as stipulated by Article 215 of the Constitution.
“Congress will pronounce on the convenience and opportunity of the measures adopted,” Benedetti stated, noting that the required report has not yet been sent.
Furthermore, Benedetti challenged the legality of holding the session virtually. He argued that under current laws, Congress can only convene via platforms such as Zoom during “exceptional circumstances” such as pandemics, earthquakes, or transportation collapses, none of which, he contends, apply to the current situation.
The Senate’s session comes after the opposition accused the government of opportunism
The political tug-of-war comes as critics accuse the government of opportunism. By declaring the economic emergency earlier this week, the administration enacted the measure during the judicial branch’s holiday vacancy.
With the Constitutional Court in recess, the decree remains in force without immediate legal oversight, prompting the Senate to step in as a political counterweight.
Despite the government’s objections regarding the format and timing, the Senate leadership confirmed the virtual session would proceed as planned.