Colombia’s Push for a Constituent Assembly Exposes Dangerous Disregard for Institutional Process

In a troubling development from Bogotá, Colombia's Interior Minister Armando Benedetti has openly acknowledged what he calls an "institutional blockade" within Congress over the proposed health reform—a claim that conveniently justifies a looming push toward convening a Constituent Assembly. This move threatens to bypass established democratic procedures and raises significant concerns about respect for institutional sovereignty.Benedetti’s declaration came in response to the Conservative Party's clear opposition to the health reform bill and their support for efforts to shelve it in the Senate’s Seventh Commission after months of legislative stagnation. Instead of engaging in robust debate or compromise, the minister bluntly...