Bogota Mayor Gustavo Petro said Monday that his government secretary has resigned to lead a campaign against the impeachment of the mayor in an upcoming referendum.
Government secretary Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo left office to lead the “No” campaign that opposes Petro’s impeachment in a March referendum.
The referendum is one of two ongoing processes to oust the polemic mayor; International Courts and the top Colombian administrative tribunal are studying a recent ruling by the Inspector General’s Office that dismissed Petro and barred him from holding public office for 15 years. A lower court had ordered an immediate suspension to be held off until after the impeachment referendum.
MORE: Petro vs. Colombia — can international bodies save Bogota’s mayor?
The referendum to impeach the mayor will be held on March 2 and will require at least 1,234,214 registered voters, or 55% of those participated when Petro was elected into office in 2011, to participate. Of these, half plus one will need to vote “yes” to the impeachment for it to be legally binding.
MORE: Bogota Mayor should stay in office until end of impeachment referendum: Court
Petro appointed current Secretary of Security, Hugo Zarrate, as the new government secretary.
Sources
- Secretario de Gobierno de Bogotá renunció a su cargo (El Espectador)
- Renuncia secretario de Gobierno, Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo para asumir campaña por el ‘NO’ (RCN Radio)
