President Juan Manuel Santos swore in Colombia’s new Justice Minister Ruth Stella Correa during a ceremony in Bogota Thursday.
“It’s time to turn the page because we have to fight for the needs of justice–and that we must do together,” said Correa, according to an official press release.
Correa, who was appointed July 6, replaced recently-resigned minister Juan Carlos Esguerra after his mishandling of a controversial justice reform bill, which was passed by Colombia’s Congress in June only to be scrapped weeks later.
The bill was meant to overhaul the country’s clogged judicial system, but a series of last-minute amendments had critics up in arms. They claimed the additions would grant impunity to public officials convicted of crimes committed while in office.
Just minutes after being sworn in, Correa assured the audience “there will again be a constitutional amendment to justice.”
Santos reiterated the need for a smooth-running court system in Colombia. “As [Correa] stated, it is urgent to decongest the courts for a speedy justice system. Under her leadership, we hope to achieve the maximum effectiveness of our codes and statutes and consolidate justice worthy of responding to the needs of Colombians,” he said.
Both Santos and Correa stressed the importance of improving icy relations between the government and opposition officials in Congress, which were strained after the passing of June’s justice reform bill.
