'The fate of the consultation is not sealed': Efraín Cepeda

The President of Congress, Efraín Cepeda, asserts that, despite the limited time available to discuss and vote on the referendum in the Legislature, they are prepared, as the labor reform has already been discussed three times.

Since my inaugural address as President of the Senate on July 20, I have expressed that I would defend the independence of the public powers, the separation of powers, the autonomy of each branch, and respect for them. Furthermore, I have been saying that the Legislative Branch cannot be an appendage to any other public branch. I believe the Executive Branch has made a mistake in trying to prescribe reforms that are not discussed, that are not agreed upon. And, in the midst of this, they have made absolutely free decisions in committees and plenary sessions, some in favor of the Government and others against it.

Let's remember that this episode of the labor reform vote dates back several weeks, when 200 people stormed the new Congress building where the Seventh Committee meets and intimidated those present. In the communication you refer to, I called attention to the President of the Republic's threats to recall Congress, which are nothing more than the threat of a coup d'état with threatening demonstrations and symbols of war like swords and flags that seek to undermine our will and intimidate parliamentarians. And of course, as president of this corporation, I cannot allow that. I also said that Congress has overcome other serious episodes in national life—the mafia, paramilitarism, and guerrillas—that have tried to subdue us. But Congress has always stood up.

Yes, that practice you mention should not be used to force congressmen to their knees and diminish their independence.

We have a commitment to history, to Colombians, to our families; and we should be able to look our children in the eye when we act independently. That's why I asked my colleagues not to give in to threats.

It's absolutely unheard of. And as one of the senators said, because of this, "they hang a tombstone around your neck." I recently had to hold a meeting with the police forces to ask them for special protection for several senators, primarily for the members of the Seventh Committee who have actually been threatened; and I'm always included in those threats.

I've been sitting in the Senate for 33 years, and I've never seen a president of the Republic refer to it this way, not only to Congress, but also to the judiciary. He spends his time telling its members that they're censoring him, as well as the free press, which he attacks whenever he doesn't like its views. That's why I said that democracy is not negotiable.

Look, that was the reasoning that led the Senate to kill the issue of defection last week, a terrible sign for democracy, because it indicated that there could be changes of faction like changing sides. And with that reasoning, despite the fact that the National Government and the entire Historic Pact were in favor of supporting it, other parties took a very hard look and ended up killing the bill.

This request was filed on May 1st. The Senate now has 20 days to approve it. There's also talk of up to 30 days, but an extension would have to be requested from the plenary session.

It would be considered administrative silence, and they would adopt it by decree. So we really have until May 21st. I think what's needed now, and what I've asked for, is for the caucus meetings to take action to make decisions. That's why it's advisable to vote on May 14th, just one week before the deadline.

If the questionnaire passes muster in Congress, the campaign would require an educational process for voters. But I believe the senators are sufficiently immersed in the debate that has been going on since the failed labor reform and, consequently, have had time to reflect. I agree that the questions are confusing, anti-technical, and lack fiscal backing. Furthermore, major think tanks have expressed that, like the previous reform, formal employment will be destroyed. There's talk of 450,000 jobs that would be destroyed and a consequent increase in informality. That's why I also asked why there's no mention of informality, which numbers 13 million or 14 million, and of the unemployed, which number around 3 million. For a Colombian who today might believe this benefits them, it could backfire, because they themselves could be the ones who lose their job or move from formality to informality, where they no longer have to request work permits, menstrual leave, sick leave, etc. And he'll have to see how he handles pension and health care contributions. Since this labor reform has already been discussed at length in the Senate, I think the criteria are set. What I ask again is a thoughtful vote. And that we not allow ourselves to be intimidated, because now I see fear and dread in some sectors of society due to the President's threats. No, democracy is much bigger than that.

I have my opinion, of course. But when I speak in my communication about a free and thoughtful vote, it means that neither the Executive nor the Legislative branches can exert pressure or coerce the vote. Today, I wouldn't dare to give any figures. I see that opinions are divided, and a three-month referendum will further polarize our nation. That's worth almost a trillion pesos; meanwhile, what about subsidies for affordable housing, education, and healthcare? There's no money.

The Caribbean region, at least the departments of Atlántico, La Guajira, and Magdalena, are on the verge of a blackout because they don't have that trillion pesos. Energy subsidies for low-income families (strata 1, 2, and 3) aren't being distributed. We're not here to squander that trillion pesos...

The best path is not to polarize the country, not to spend the trillion pesos, and instead to look at the reforms that are on the agenda. In fact, the Conservative Party presented a labor reform bill that more or less included these elements, but the Seventh Committee of the House of Representatives dismissed it and didn't analyze it. The Conservative Party believes in the need for labor reform, but one that must be agreed upon, not imposed. That's why I insist that Congress cannot be an appendage of the Executive Branch, because we'll destroy democracy and the balance of power. In my letter, I also call for restraint. I believe we can debate ideas without aggression, something I've rarely seen in my 33 years of parliamentary life.

Congress can partially approve it, cross out some questions and leave out others, but that won't save us a single peso of the trillion dollars it's going to spend. We'd better go to the Seventh Committee.

In addition to these accusations, he mentions and supports several of the senators: Nadia Blel, Senator Pinto, and me. Of course, we appreciate that support, because sometimes we feel alone in this battle and in this struggle to defend democracy. Ultimately, we are defending the interests of the people, of the 450,000 jobs that will be lost, of the additional 12 percent of Colombians who would be forced into the informal sector, of the microenterprises that would go bankrupt and exit the market...

I must say two things here. First, the mental health of the leaders is essential. And second, I would look at the evidence and legal proceedings. I am a democrat, and I think not only about the balance of power, but also about the completion of mandates. We will have to delve into these statements by former Minister Leyva. This is the second time he's made them, and I see that a US congressman has also been making this point, which at least requires a serious statement from the President of the Republic.

I believe, as I told you, that the criteria have already been formed and that we are ready for the vote. I haven't heard from any senator that they need more time to study the substantive questions. That has already been done. This is the third time that the Congress of the Republic, I reiterate, has studied a labor reform in depth.

We'll see what happens with the caucus meetings, as those decisions are mandatory. The Conservative Party will make them, and I hope the others will too. But I don't think the die is cast. I think this past weekend, with Mother's Day on the horizon, was a time for reflection, looking mothers, wives, and children in the eye.