The Colombian government withdrew its proposal to raise the retirement age Thursday.
“The government considers it an act of responsibility to future generations to raise a reform that guarantees the viability and sustainability of the Colombian pension system,” says a press release on the presidential website.
The government has made the decision to withdraw the article about raising the retirement age from the National Development Plan, after dissent within the government.
Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos expressed in the press release that while discussion and disagreements within his staff are useful, and even necessary, “they should be handled within the government and not through the media.”
Vice President Angelino Garzon expressed his disagreement with the proposed article that could see a rise in the retirement age in a public announcement Thursday morning, Caracol radio reports.
Garzon questioned the government’s economic team for putting forward the proposal, saying, “I don’t believe in advisers and consultants involving themselves in issues of which they have no awareness. That is why I am saying publicly that the best we can do within the national government is to remove this article.”
Congressman Angelo Custodio Cabrera also stated his opposition to it on Wednesday.
The National Development Plan is aimed at elevating Colombia’s world status by confronting poverty, creating jobs, improving security, growing the economy and infrastructure, stopping government corruption, and improving social programs.