Petro Criticizes Economists And Central Bank

Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticized the financial system following a Council of State decision to suspend a decree regarding the transfer of 25 trillion pesos to Colpensiones. Petro claimed the Council of State is vetoing the transfer of Colombian citizens' savings. The remarks were made during a new council of ministers meeting. He used the decision to call for a national constituent assembly. The President also invited citizens to a national mobilization on May 1 to defend pension rights. President Petro dismissed economic projections from critics as ideological hallucinations rather than scientific data. He stated the state has had to incur new debt to fulfill existing contract obligations. Petro linked central bank decisions to political opposition sectors. He claimed that changing the majority of the Banco de la República board, specifically mentioning Uquista and Paloma Valencia, would alter recent interest rate history.