The President of Colombia’s business association, ANDI, announced Thursday he will resign.
Luis Carlos Villegas, also a member of the government team negotiating peace with rebel group FARC in Havana, has been the President of ANDI since 1996 and has been an important figure in the Colombian union circle.
According to local media, rumors suggest Villegas may be in line to occupy a position in government, perhaps as a minister.
If true, this would coincide with rumors that President Santos is planning to sack and replace five ministers later this week.
MORE: Santos could sack 5 ministers later this week: Reports
According to news website Kien y Ke, Heriberto Escobar, a business manager specializing in administrative law, believes that his resignation must be related to politics.
“It must be a political aspiration. It leaves me amazed, waiting for the reasons as to why he resigned,” said Escobar.
Telesforo Pedraza, a house representative and senator from Bogota, was quick to praise the work done by Villegas.
“It is very unfortunate, he is one of those union leaders who is very knowledgeable in their sector, of the highest order, trained and committed.”
“He is a man who still has much to give in terms of the knowledge he has accumulated,” added Pedraza.
Gonzalo Guitierez, a Peruvian diplomat, was keen to stress the importance of finding the right successor to Villegas.
“I think that he was doing a very good job at ANDI. Hopefully the person assuming his position has an equal or greater capacity for analysis and work.”
