Colombian minister faces no-confidence motion over holiday during earthquake
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Colombia’s Housing Minister, Jaime Andres Beltran, faced a motion of no confidence from the left-wing opposition after he was photographed on a Caribbean holiday shortly after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake destroyed 27,000 homes. The disaster, which occurred on August 10 and killed nearly 300 people, served as a primary challenge for President Abelardo de la Espriella’s new administration. While Beltran defended his actions as brief personal time before returning to reconstruction work, the government also faced criticism for the President’s decision to distribute campaign-branded footballs to survivors near the epicenter. Meanwhile, singer Shakira and Howard Buffett visited the affected department of Choco, pledging $1 million to rebuild 10 schools.
Consequences
The minister faces a formal parliamentary challenge that could threaten his position within the newly formed government. Additionally, the President’s handling of the crisis and his public interactions with victims have drawn political backlash, potentially complicating his administration's efforts to manage the transition and the ongoing humanitarian response.
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