During the campaign and following his election, President Gustavo Petro has emphasized what foreign relations should be for Colombia. In his government program, the now president promised that he would favor the diplomatic career in all missions, prioritizing merit and experience to hold said positions. He even promised that 50% of embassies and consulates would appoint career diplomats. Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva assured that these positions would not be “for the political class.”
However, everything indicates that the Government is breaking its promise. So far, what has come out is that President Petro has appointed political allies, personal friends and even people close to his wife, Verónica Alcocer, in positions of great importance for Colombia in other countries.
Initially, the president appointed Luis Gilberto Murillo as Colombian ambassador in Washington. Then he announced the arrival of politicians like León Fredy Muñoz in Nicaragua, Camilo Romero in Argentina, and people he trusted completely, like Eduardo Ávila Navarrete in Spain. Likewise, the appointment of Ligia Quessep as ambassador to Italy was finalized. She is a native of Sincelejo and is a childhood friend of the first lady. In turn, Elizabeth Carrillo, an Arhuaca activist close to Vice President Francia Márquez, was appointed ambassador to Bolivia. None of that list belongs to the diplomatic career.
In recent days, it became known that more politicians and allies will be appointed as heads of mission: Jorge Rojas, former Secretary of Government of the Bogotá de Petro, would be ambassador to the European Union; Guillermo Rivera, former Minister of the Interior, would become ambassador to Brazil, and Germán Navas Talero, former congressman of the Polo Democrático, would occupy the post of ambassador to Denmark.
Francisco Burchardt, president of the Union of Employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke with WEEK regarding the concern regarding the little importance that has been given to officials with a diplomatic career. “The most responsible positions should be in the hands of the people who have been prepared for it,” said the union leader.
In addition, he assured that the most “coveted” destinations were offered to those who are not part of the diplomatic service. “There is a tendency to appoint people who do not have a diplomatic career in European destinations or in North America. Obviously that has generated discomfort in the Foreign Ministry,” said Burchardt.
In accordance with the law that regulates the foreign service, at least 20% of the total ambassadorial posts must be held by members of the diplomatic service. According to Burchardt, the president’s appointments are close to 30%. “We do not consider that it is the appropriate number given the expectation of a government that raised respect for the diplomatic career.”
He even affirms that the lack of experience of the heads of embassies and consulates influences the provision of a bad service for Colombians abroad: “That is why we request that the foreign service be professional and specialized. You don’t learn in a one-month induction”.
The union has been waiting for a meeting with Chancellor Leyva for seven weeks, which has been previously postponed, to discuss this situation. At the moment, few countries, such as Germany, Uruguay, Switzerland, Hungary and Panama, have career ambassadors.
As promised, the workers of the Ministry of Foreign Relations expect a change in the historical dynamics in which diplomacy is carried out with politicians and allies of the president in office, and not with diplomats, as it should be.