Colombian finance minister resigns amid deadly protests

Colombia’s finance minister has resigned following five days of protests over a tax reform proposal that left at least 17 dead

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Colombia’s finance minister resigned on Monday following five days of protests over a tax reform proposal that left at least 17 dead. Alberto Carrasquilla’s resignation comes a day after President Iván Duque withdrew the tax plan from congress in response to the protests, which have included riots and violent clashes with police. According to Colombia’s Human Rights Ombudsman, 16 protesters have been killed since Wednesday as well as a policeman who was stabbed to death. Carrasquilla had designed the tax reform, which was aimed at raising $6.7 billion for Colombia’s government as it struggles to pay debts while attempting to provide poor families with subsidies to mitigate the pandemic’s impact.