Colombian Equality Minister Resigns Amid Dispute Over Controversial Deputy Appointment

Carlos Rosero’s resignation after just five months as Colombia’s Minister of Equality highlights growing tensions within the Petro administration over controversial appointments and the stability of key reform ministries.

Carlos Rosero stepped down from Colombia’s Equality Ministry after a public dispute over the role of his deputy. Photo: @EFEnoticias

August 3, 2025 Hour: 4:23 am

Carlos Rosero has resigned as Colombia’s Minister of Equality and Equity after five months in office, following public disagreements with President Gustavo Petro over the appointment of his deputy.

Afro-Colombian activist Carlos Rosero announced his resignation on Saturday, marking the end of a brief tenure leading the Ministry of Equality and Equity. The decision came amid internal tensions in the Petro administration, specifically around the proposed appointment of Vice Minister Juan Florián.

Rosero confirmed his resignation in a letter sent from the Caribbean island of San Andrés, where he was attending Emancipation Day celebrations—an annual commemoration of the 1834 abolition of slavery in the Colombian territory. In his message, Rosero emphasized achievements during his time in office, including a budget restructuring, anti-corruption initiatives, and the submission of a bill to ensure the ministry’s long-term operation.

“My commitment to the country and the process of change remains intact,” Rosero wrote. He had assumed the role following the departure of Vice President Francia Márquez, the ministry’s first leader.

Desde la Isla de San Andrés donde se conmemoró el día de la Emancipación Raizal, escribí la renuncia a mi cargo como ministro de Igualdad y Equidad, la cuál comparto a continuación. 👉🏾 @petrogustavo @MinIgualdad_Col @infopresidencia pic.twitter.com/XVchD3PCgJ
— Carlos Rosero (@Anthon_Manyoma) August 2, 2025

The Ministry of Equality and Equity, created in 2023, is a cornerstone of President Gustavo Petro’s progressive platform, aiming to address structural inequalities in a country marked by persistent ethnic and social disparities. Yet the ministry has faced controversy and internal disputes since its establishment.

Tensions became public last month when Petro criticized Rosero during a nationally broadcast cabinet meeting for refusing to integrate Florián into his team. “A mí nadie que sea negro me va a decir que hay que excluir a un actor porno,” the president said, referring to Florián’s past work in the adult film industry.

Juan Florián, 42, is a political scientist with over 20 years of experience in international cooperation and human rights advocacy. However, his background as a former sex worker and his public status as a person living with HIV have stirred mixed reactions, including within Petro’s own coalition.

“I don’t come from the elites. I was a migrant, a sex worker, I’m HIV-positive, but I’m also a political scientist and a human rights defender,” Florián stated on social media.

Rosero’s resignation brings the total number of ministerial departures in Petro’s cabinet to 55 since he took office in August 2022, reflecting both the political turbulence within the Historic Pact coalition and the administration’s ongoing struggles to consolidate its reform agenda.