The mayor of Bogota declared himself “ready to have a government without a council,” Tuesday via Twitter.
Gustavo Petro, who took office earlier this month, made the remark hours after the Green Party refused to join a coalition with his Progresista government.
Currently Petro leads a minority government and, without cooperation from the other major parties, faces a mayoral tenure colored by legislative logjam.
In the face of this, Petro has essentially announced himself willing to rule by decree, adding on Twitter that it would be necessary if other parties “reject agreements on the fundamental needs of Bogota.”
Green Party councilman Antonio Sanguino told Radio Caracol, “This is an undemocratic message, the primary public power of Bogota is with the Bogota Council and the defence of the balance of power is a facet of modern democracy.”
Petro’s attempt to forge a coalition has contradicted his pre-election pledge not to form any alliances and to remain independent from the major parties.
As a young man, Petro was a member of the now-defunct M-19 guerrilla movement and spent 18 months in prison for weapons possession.
Based upon his previous incarceration, Petro is currently the subject of a State Council inquiry, which could see him barred from office.