BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday bypassed legislative opposition and signed a decree summoning voters to the polls in August to decide changes to the country’s labor laws, including whether workdays should be limited to eight hours.
The decree fulfilled Petro’s threat to Congress to put his labor system overhaul before voters should senators not approve the 12-question referendum themselves. He issued the measure in a tense political climate following the Saturday shooting of opposition senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay during a public event.
The referendum has become the crux of long-running tensions between the executive and legislative branches.
After Congress rejected Petro’s labor reform twice, most recently in March, he sent lawmakers a 12-question referendum proposal on May 1 as Colombian law requires that the Senate rule on the advisability of referendums. The legislative body two weeks later voted 49-47 against the measure, prompting Petro to accuse lawmakers of fraud.
Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president, has accused Congress of working against the interest of workers and has asked them to demonstrate across the country.
The referendum’s questions include whether workers should receive double pay if they work during holidays; whether daytime workdays should end at 6 p.m.; and whether open-ended contracts should be offered to workers to prioritize job stability.
The disagreements between Petro and Congress date back to the start of his term in 2022, but they have heightened as he seeks to consolidate his legacy ahead of next year’s legislative and presidential elections.
Uribe remained in critical condition Wednesday following his shooting in broad daylight Saturday during a political rally in the capital, Bogota. Authorities investigating the motive have not ruled out the possibility that it was a targeted attack on the opposition. They are also considering whether it was an attempt to destabilize the current government, or retaliation by illegal armed groups.
In anticipation of court challenges, Petro on Wednesday said his government will send the decree to Colombia’s Constitutional Court for review. At the same time, the Council of State is considering a lawsuit seeking to annul the Senate’s vote.
A youth pedals his bike with a Colombian national flag in tow during a march called by labor unions in support of Colombian President Gustavo Petro's intention to call by decree a popular consultation on labor reform in Bogota, Colombia, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)
A man wears a hat with a Cuban flag and an image of Che Guevara at a rally in support of Colombian President Gustavo Petro's intention to call a referendum on labor reform, in Cali, Colombia, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)
People participate in a rally in support of Colombian President Gustavo Petro's intention to call a referendum on labor reform, in Cali, Colombia, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)
ADELBODEN, Switzerland (AP) — Swiss ski star Marco Odermatt is often unbeatable in the World Cup and especially at his home giant slalom classic that he won for a record fifth straight year Saturday.
Olympic giant slalom champion Odermatt raced through steady falling snow and worsening visibility to protect his first-run lead and win by 0.49 seconds from Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil. Leo Anguenot of France was third, 0.68 back.
Pinheiro Braathen led the applause in the finish area after watching Odermatt ski at his limit to exactly match the Brazilian's time in the tough second run.
"He is really the king of this hill," Pinheiro Braathen said of Odermatt to Swiss broadcaster RTS. “It is an honor to be able to stand as the last man up at the start gate with him and be able to fight him on arguably the coolest race that you guys have to offer.”
Odermatt has won each Adelboden giant slalom since 2022 to overtake the four-win streak of Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark from 1979 through 1982.
“Adelboden was my first love and it will always be my big love. I was here as a small kid,” Odermatt said.
Home wins once were rare and are wildly appreciated by a noisy crowd of about 25,000 fans on a signature day in Switzerland's sports calendar.
“They really made me push harder," Odermatt said of the home support. "This energy, this extra pressure and motivation helps.”
Racing began Saturday morning after a minute’s silence observed for the victims of the fatal fire in a bar in nearby Crans-Montana, which hosts World Cup races in three weeks’ time.
In another stellar World Cup season for Odermatt, the four-time defending overall champion has almost twice as many race points as his nearest challenger, Pinheiro Braathen.
Odermatt's sixth race win this season was the 51st of his career, fourth on the all-time list, and 29th in giant slalom.
Back when he was racing for his father's nation Norway, Pinheiro Braathen sustained a season-ending knee injury at Adelboden in 2021 crashing over the finish line while setting a fast time in giant slalom.
One year later he stopped his giant slalom run approaching the steep final slope rather than tackle it again.
Pinheiro Braathen said Saturday he later had therapy to help him confront his issues with the storied hill.
“Words cannot describe how proud I am right now.”
The Adelboden giant slalom has been a fixture on the men’s calendar since the first week of World Cup racing in January 1967. Then, the winner was another iconic ski name, Jean-Claude Killy.
The Chuenisbaergli course has signature rolling terrain over summer cow pastures. Skiers crest a rise before entering the steep final slope that funnels then down into a raucous finish area.
The course stages a slalom Sunday, that Odermatt will skip though Pinheiro Braathen will be a contender to repeat his 2023 win.
AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt celebrates winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)
Second placed Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, left, celebrates with winner Switzerland's Marco Odermatt, after finishing second in a men's World Cup giant slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt celebrates winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen reacts at the finish line during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course on his way to win an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Norway's Timon Haugan speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men¥s World Cup giant slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)
