President Gustavo Petro announced during the Council of Ministers that the government will stop paying the gasoline subsidy, reducing the primary deficit. He also addressed bankrupt EPS health providers and progress in agrarian reform. The Agriculture Minister highlighted record investments in the sector.
During the Council of Ministers, President Gustavo Petro stated that “we will no longer pay the gasoline subsidy, which allows the primary deficit and debt cost to decrease, as well as payment flows”. He warned that global tensions, such as the Middle East conflict, could raise worldwide gasoline prices in the future, impacting Colombia, and stressed the need to balance prices from this energy source. Petro noted that “today all EPS are bankrupt, intervened or not”, but highlighted the drop in infant mortality and said “today there is more life in Colombia”. Since Congress rejected the health reform, bankrupt EPS will be liquidated. On agrarian reform, the president insisted that without land distribution there is no production, and the goal is to boost food output. He cited challenges like drought, issues with Chinese imports that could reduce cow supply, and the need for more tourism to balance trade. Agriculture Minister Martha Carvajalino presented figures: Colombia is a “food powerhouse” with $22 trillion invested, 39.5 million hectares sown, and growth in fresh fruit, palm, and avocado exports. In 2025, 2.180 million liters of milk were delivered. The land fund managed 763,545 hectares, redistributing 305,384; 25 peasant territories were created (1.2 million hectares), 226 indigenous resguardos (3.5 million hectares), and 102 community councils. Additionally, over $280 billion in inputs, $144 trillion in credit, protecting 197,000 hectares for food, with 4.8 million people employed, 19% drop in food inflation, and three key constitutional reforms.
