The Colombian House of Representatives (lower house) will vote next November 23 on a motion of censure against the Minister of Mines and Energy, Irene Vélez, following controversial statements on the suspension of hydrocarbon exploitation.
The motion of censure has been proposed by the benches of Cambio Radical, Centro Democrático and the opposition statute, led by parliamentarians of Liga de Gobernantes, as reported by Colombian radio station RCN Radio.
According to representative Carolina Arbaláez, from Cambio Radical, the motion of censure is motivated by the «reiterative declarations to the media about suspending the exploitation and exploration of hydrocarbons».
According to Arbaláez, these words by Vélez only generate «legal and economic uncertainty» in the South American nation, even more so when the minister has advocated importing gas from Venezuela in case national reserves are depleted.
For a sector of the congressmen, the postulates of the Minister of Mines and Energy are «irresponsible and hasty declarations, which do not match the world economic situation, and which on the contrary are leading the country hastily to an economic crisis instead of mitigating it».
«We need ministers who are up to the challenges facing the country and with the experience and knowledge that the portfolio they represent requires», said the sectors of the House of Representatives that advocate for the censure of Vélez.
