Revolving doors at Colombia’s crumbling cabinet under Petro

Colombia’s government is facing political turmoil as four cabinet ministers have resigned within the last two weeks. While turnover has been frequent under President Gustavo Petro, who has replaced over 40 ministers in two and a half years, these high-profile departures raise concerns about his leadership and impact both his domestic standing and regional influence.

Petro, elected in 2022 as part of Latin America’s second "pink tide" of left-wing leaders, aimed to redefine the region’s progressive movement. An article by the Foreign Policy publication highlights that his administration's focus has been on economic diversification away from oil, rejecting militarized security policies, and promoting a feminist foreign policy. However, while Petro has made progress in some areas—such as launching green investments and negotiating cease-fires with guerrilla groups—his erratic leadership style has hindered broader success.

The article reports his critics argue Petro struggles to make compromises, making it difficult to work with private industry and secure investment. His recent missteps, including appointing Armando Benedetti—an embattled politician accused of corruption and violence against women—as chief of staff, have further damaged his administration’s credibility. On February 4, Petro disregarded internal advice and named Benedetti to the role. That same evening, he aired a cabinet meeting in which he publicly criticized ministers for their shortcomings. Five days later, he demanded the resignation of his entire cabinet before departing for a weeklong trip to the Middle East.

Among the departing ministers are those responsible for defense and the environment—two key areas Petro had hoped would define his presidency. Despite Environment Minister Susana Muhamad’s recent positive report on deforestation reduction, the article states that Colombia’s security situation has worsened. Talks with the National Liberation Army guerrilla group collapsed last month, and violence near the Venezuelan border has displaced over 50,000 people.

Petro’s leadership and his controversial embrace of Benedetti have distanced him from the "new left," which prioritizes environmentalism, gender equality, and democratic stability. The publication cites political science professor Sandra Borda, who described this shift as “terrible news for the left,” signaling broader challenges for progressive leaders across Latin America.

With Colombia’s next presidential election set for 2026, early polling indicates a right-wing candidate is leading. Chile, where President Gabriel Boric’s progressive constitutional reform failed, will also hold elections this year, with conservatives ahead in polls. Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is seeing his approval ratings decline.

While some leftist leaders, such as Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, remain popular, the authors interpret the recent upheaval in Colombia as a sign that Latin America’s second pink tide may be shorter-lived than the first.

By Nazrin Sadigova