Court says Colombia lower house must re-do vote on pension reform
BOGOTA - Colombia's constitutional court said in a ruling on Tuesday that the country's lower house must re-do a vote on a major pension reform approved last year because of a procedural irregularity, though it did not rule on the law's constitutionality.
The law, approved by the lower house in June 2024 after prior approval in the Senate, is meant to strengthen state pension fund Colpensiones, reduce subsidies and increase coverage for those without sufficient savings.
The bill was meant to come into force next month, but will not be valid until the court approves it, the ruling added.
"With the intent of compensating for the procedural irregularity which occurred," lawmakers in the lower house must vote on the text of the law approved by the Senate and already published in the official gazette, the ruling said.
The lower house has 30 days, counted only when it is in session, to conduct the vote, it added.
Interior Minister Armando Benedetti told reporters President Gustavo Petro would call extra sessions, as the current legislative session ends on Friday.
"The pension reform has been saved," Petro said on X. "I ask the lower house to discuss in depth the article which would approve the Senate's text and to back it." REUTERS
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