Politics of Colombia

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Colombia is a presidential representative democratic republic with a multi-party system, where the President of Colombia is both head of state and head of government. The national government has separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches. [1] The legislative power is held by the two chambers of the Congress of Colombia, the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature, with the four high courts for each jurisdiction of law: the Constitutional Court of Colombia, Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia, Council of State, and Superior Council of Judicature.

Contents

The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Colombia a " flawed democracy " in 2024. [2] [ needs update ]

Constitution

The current Colombian Constitution of 1991, enacted on July 5, 1991, strengthened the administration of justice with the provision for introduction of an adversarial system, which entirely replaced the existing Napoleonic Code.[ citation needed ] Other significant reforms under the new constitution included civil divorce, dual nationality, the office of Vice President of Colombia, and the election of Departmental Governors. [3] Additionally, the constitution expanded citizens' fundamental rights, including the right of "tutela," which allows individuals to request immediate court action if they feel their constitutional rights are being violated and if no other legal recourse is available.[ citation needed ]

Executive branch

Casa de Narino, seat of the executive power. Casa-narino-1-fachada.jpg
Casa de Nariño, seat of the executive power.

The President of Colombia is elected to a single four-year term. The 1991 constitution reestablished the position of the Vice President of Colombia, who is elected on the same ticket as the president. By law, the vice president will succeed in the event of the president's resignation, illness, or death. [4] Since 2015, the president has been barred from running for reelection, even for a nonconsecutive term. [5] [1]

Legislative branch

Congress of Colombia in Bogota. CapitolioNacionalDeColombia2004-7.jpg
Congress of Colombia in Bogotá.

Colombia's bicameral congress consists of a 108-member senate and a 172-member chamber of representatives. Senators are elected on the basis of a nationwide ballot, while representatives are elected in multi member districts co-located within the 32 national departments. The country's capital is a separate capital district and elects its own representatives.[ citation needed ] Members may be re-elected indefinitely, and, in contrast to the pre-1991 constitution system, there are no alternate congressmen. Congress meets twice a year, and the president has the power to call it into special session when needed.[ citation needed ]

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia. PalacioDeJusticia2004-7-9Bogota.jpg
Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia.

The civilian judiciary is a separate and independent branch of government. Guidelines and the general structure for Colombia's administration of justice are set out in Law 270 of March 7, 1996.[ citation needed ] After the 1991 Constitution, Colombia's legal system began incorporating elements of an oral, accusatory system. The judicial branch's general structure comprises four distinct jurisdictions: ordinary, administrative, constitutional, and special. Colombia's highest judicial organs are the Supreme Court, the Council of State, the Constitutional Court, and the Superior Judicial Council. Although all the high courts technically oversee separate jurisdictions, the Constitutional Court has a broad spectrum of judicial oversight, often allowing it to rule on issues overseen by different jurisdictions and even weigh in directly on the rulings of other high courts. [6]

Elections

Presidential

Colombian presidents are elected for four-year terms using a two-round system; if no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the first round, a runoff is held between the top two candidates. [7] The vice president is elected on the same ticket as the president. Presidents are limited to a single four-year term, and Article 191 of the constitution requires candidates to be Colombian by birth and at least thirty years old. In line with the constitution, Colombian citizens by birth or by naturalization, aged eighteen or older have the right to vote. Several scenarios can cause the loss of the right to vote, as outlined in the constitution. Citizens in detention centers can vote from the establishments determined by the National Civil Registry. The civil registry inscription is not automatic, and citizens must go to the regional office of the registry to register. [8] Legislative Act No. 2 of 2015 established that the runner-up in the presidential elections is given a seat in the Senate and their vice president candidate becomes a member of the Chamber of Representatives. [9]

In order to be accepted as a candidate, applicants must either have the backing of a recognized political party in order to run as their official candidate, or to collect a minimum number of signatures in order to run as an independent candidate.[ citation needed ]

Parliamentary

Department level

Recent elections

2022 presidential election

CandidateRunning matePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Gustavo Petro Francia Márquez (SPS) Humane Colombia 8,542,02040.3411,292,75850.42
Rodolfo Hernández Marelen Castillo Independent 5,965,53128.1710,604,65647.35
Federico Gutiérrez Rodrigo Lara Sánchez Creemos Colombia  [ es ]5,069,52623.94
Sergio Fajardo Luis Gilberto Murillo (CR) Independent Social Alliance 885,2914.18
John Milton Rodríguez  [ es ] Sandra de las Lajas Torres  [ es ] Colombia Justa Libres 271,3861.28
Enrique Gómez Martínez  [ es ]Carlos Cuartas National Salvation Movement 48,6430.23
Íngrid Betancourt [a] José Luis Esparza Oxygen Green Party 14,1610.07
Luis Pérez Gutiérrez  [ es ] [a] Ceferino Mosquera Independent 11,5070.05
Blank votes365,7771.73500,0692.23
Total21,173,842100.0022,397,483100.00
Valid votes21,173,84298.7522,397,48398.72
Invalid votes268,4581.25291,5511.28
Total votes21,442,300100.0022,689,034100.00
Registered voters/turnout39,002,23954.9839,002,23958.17
Source: Registraduria (first round), Registraduria (second round),

2022 parliamentary election

Senate
PartyVotes%Seats
Historic Pact for Colombia 2,880,25416.9520
Colombian Conservative Party 2,238,67813.1815
Colombian Liberal Party 2,112,52812.4314
Hope CenterGreen Alliance 1,958,36911.5313
Democratic Center 1,949,90511.4813
Radical Change 1,609,1739.4711
Union Party for the People 1,506,5678.8710
MIRAFair and Free Colombia 584,8063.444
Civic Force 431,1662.540
New Liberalism 368,3452.170
We are Ready Colombia115,1200.680
SOS Colombia56,7670.330
New People Movement37,0630.220
National Salvation Movement 31,2890.180
Commons 25,7080.155
Metapolitical Unitary Movement 12,1650.070
Presidential election runner-up1
Blank votes1,072,4016.31
Total16,990,304100.00106
Valid votes16,990,30493.04
Invalid votes1,270,7206.96
Total votes18,261,024100.00
Registered voters/turnout38,819,90147.04
Indigenous seats
Indigenous and Social Alternative Movement 89,19930.401
Indigenous Authorities of Colombia 63,37321.601
Colombian Indigenous Party28,3129.650
Environmental Mandate14,8255.050
Association of Indigenous Councils for Colombia13,5804.630
Campo Alegre Protection4,7491.620
National Association of Cabildos and Indigenous Authorities in Colombia3,7571.280
Ancestral Socio-Political Organisation2,0520.700
Democracia Desde Abajo La Palma1,5800.540
Blank votes71,97824.53
Total293,405100.002
Valid votes293,40578.09
Invalid/blank votes82,30321.91
Total votes375,708100.00
Source: [10]
Chamber of Representatives
PartyVotes%Seats
Historic Pact for Colombia 2,922,40917.6228
Colombian Liberal Party 2,335,42614.0832
Colombian Conservative Party 2,068,07612.4725
Democratic Center 1,692,49110.2016
Union Party for the People 1,439,5798.6815
Radical Change 1,319,4377.9516
Green Alliance 1,093,8366.5911
Hope Center Coalition 445,5492.692
MIRAFair and Free Colombia 288,6171.741
New Liberalism 282,2711.701
League of Anti-Corruption Governors 172,3421.042
Historic PactGreen Alliance 149,2180.902
Radical ChangeFair and Free ColombiaMIRA 136,6220.821
Colombian Conservative PartyUnion Party for the People 111,4970.671
Colombian Conservative PartyDemocratic Center 99,1380.601
Radical ChangeMIRA 84,7040.511
Civic Force 71,0750.431
Colombian Liberal PartyFair and Free Colombia 68,4680.411
Colombia Renaissance Party 62,4900.381
Alternativos (AVPDA)60,5270.362
Union Party for the PeopleMIRAFair and Free Colombia 60,4120.360
Radical ChangeFair and Free Colombia 58,6740.350
Independent Movement of Absolute Renovation 56,9110.340
Gente en Movimiento 54,9330.331
National Salvation Movement 38,1230.230
Together for Caldas (ASIDNLMIRA)36,4790.221
Radical ChangeCJLMIRAUnion Party for the People 34,7430.210
MIRADemocratic CenterFair and Free Colombia 32,5140.200
AVHope Center Coalition 31,8730.190
Union Party for the PeopleMIRACJLASI 30,0220.180
Colombian Conservative PartyCJLMIRA 29,9470.180
Human Colombia Political Movement 29,8450.180
Colombian Conservative PartyCJLMSN 24,1620.150
Commons 21,4230.135
MIRACJLMSN 18,1650.110
Dignity 16,4310.100
Independent Social Alliance 12,7650.080
MIRADemocratic Center 11,6880.070
Union Party for the PeopleMIRARadical Change 9,5490.060
Union Party for the PeopleFair and Free Colombia 6,6120.041
The Change is Me Digital Movement6,2340.040
Colombian Liberal PartyIndependent Social Alliance 4,0180.020
Force Colombia (Colombia Renaissance PartyASI)2,3710.010
National Salvation MovementFair and Free Colombia 1,8530.010
Indigenous Authorities of Colombia 6290.000
Fair and Free Colombia 410.000
Vice-presidential runner-up1
Blank votes1,053,4806.35
Total16,587,669100.00169
Valid votes16,587,66993.17
Invalid/blank votes1,215,3446.83
Total votes17,803,013100.00
Registered voters/turnout38,819,90145.86
Afro-Colombian seats
Palenque de la Vereda las Trecientas y del Municipio de Galapa66,47414.071
Fernando Ríos Hidalgo40,0498.481
CC de la Comunidad Negra Limones39,9248.450
CC La Toma25,6025.420
CC Manuel Zapata Olivella De San Antero25,3225.360
CC Afrozabaletas20,1894.270
CC de la Costa Pacífica "Concosta"12,6052.670
CC Bocas del Atrato y Leoncito12,3062.600
CC la Voz de Los Negros11,7302.480
CC de Comunidades Negras De Guayabal11,0812.350
Organización Étnica de Comunidades Afros los Palenkes9,2851.970
CC Mayor de Casimiro7,8341.660
CC Mayor de Certegui7,6541.620
CC de Comunidades Negras de Campo Hermoso6,1811.310
Partido Colombia Renaciente6,1521.300
CC Bocas de Taparal5,2701.120
Somos Identidad5,0311.060
Movimiento Alianza Democrática Amplia4,2980.910
CC Integral de Lloró4,2630.900
CC de la Comunidad Negra de Villa Gloria4,0740.860
CC Veredas Unidas un Bien Común4,0560.860
CC Unión Patía Viejo4,0150.85
CC del Río Guajuí3,9630.840
Consejo Comunit Piedras Bachichi Correg Santa Cecilia3,6130.760
Fundación para el Desarrollo Social de Comunidades Negras3,3560.710
Alianza Nacional Afrocolombiana2,9760.630
CC de Comunidades Negras Socolando2,9420.620
CC Rio Curbaradó2,6810.570
Conmoguz2,4560.520
CC de Flamenco - Municipio de María La Baja2,3300.490
Asoc Afrocol Desplazados Mcpio Guacarí Valle del Cauca "ADAG"2,3220.490
CC Alto Paraíso2,2960.490
CC Puerto Girón2,1470.450
CC Arcilla, Cardón y Tuna2,1130.450
Consejo Mayor Condoto Iró1,9230.410
CC de Vuelta Manza1,8600.390
Consejo Comunit Recuerdo de Nuestros Ancestros Rio Mejicano1,8040.380
CC de los Corregimientos de San Antonio y El Castillo Municipio de El Cerrito1,7500.370
CC Rescate Las Varas1,6870.360
CC del Guabal1,6240.340
Corporación Kofi Annan1,5940.340
Corporación De Educadores del Litoral Pacifico Corelipa1,1860.250
Afromutata1,0870.230
Asociación Afrodescendientes de Arboletes9960.210
Coacneja9370.200
Fundación Social Magende Mi6330.130
Odeprivicor5420.110
Comunidad de Negros de Aguas Blancas4040.090
Blank votes87,80918.59
Total472,426100.002
Valid votes472,42683.86
Invalid/blank votes90,91716.14
Total votes563,343100.00
Indigenous seat
Indigenous and Social Alternative Movement 84,63742.261
Indigenous Authorities of Colombia 27,08913.520
Colombian Indigenous Party18,8289.400
National Association of Cabildos and Indigenous Authorities in Colombia7,9573.970
Aywjawashi Indigenous Council7,8703.930
Resguardo Indígena Alta y Media Guajira5,5562.770
Resguardo Indígena Zenú Del Alto San Jorge2,9001.450
Blank votes45,45922.70
Total200,296100.001
Valid votes200,29684.29
Invalid/blank votes37,33815.71
Total votes237,634100.00
Source: [11]

Political parties

In the Parliamentary election of 2022, the following parties got the minimum required number of votes for legal recognition (3% of valid votes).

PartyAbbr.FoundedIdeologyPolitical
position
Status in
government
Senators Seats in the
House
Governors Deputies Mayors LeaderAffiliationAlliance
Democratic Centre
Centro Democrático
CD2013 Right-wing
to far-right
Opposition
13 / 108(12%)
15 / 188(8%)
3 / 32(9%)
34 / 418(8%)
154 / 1,102
Álvaro Uribe IDU
Bandera del Partido Liberal Colombiano.svg Colombian Liberal Party
Partido Liberal Colombiano
PLC1848 Centre-left Coalition
14 / 108(13%)
32 / 188(17%)
7 / 32(22%)
78 / 418(19%)
181 / 1,102
César Gaviria SI
Cambio Radical logo.svg Radical Change
Cambio Radical
CR1998 Center-right to right-wing Opposition
11 / 108(10%)
16 / 188(9%)
7 / 32(22%)
64 / 418(15%)
155 / 1,102
Rodrigo Lara  [ es ]
Logo Partido U Colombia.png Social Party of National Unity
Partido Social de Unidad Nacional
PSUN2005 Centre-left Independent
14 / 108(13%)
25 / 172(15%)
4 / 32(13%)
74 / 418(18%)
258 / 1,102
Dilian Francisca Toro LI [b]
Bandera del Partido Conservador Colombiano.svg Colombian Conservative Party
Partido Conservador Colombiano
PCC1849 Right-wing Independent
15 / 108(14%)
25 / 188(13%)
7 / 32(22%)
65 / 418(16%)
194 / 1,102
Hernán Andrade CDI, IDU
Alianza Verde (Colombia).svg Green Alliance
Alianza Verde
AV2009 Center-left Coalition
8 / 108(7%)
11 / 188(6%)
3 / 32(9%)
44 / 418(11%)
50 / 1,102
Claudia López GG, FSP CdE
ComunesColombia.png Commons
Comunes
2017 Marxism–Leninism
Bolivarianism
Progressivism
Anti-capitalism
Anti-imperialism
Far-left Coalition
5 / 108(5%)
5 / 188(3%)
0 / 32(0%)
4 / 1,102
Timoleón Jiménez FSP PHxC
PDA Logo.svg Alternative Democratic Pole
Polo Democrático Alternativo
PDA2005 Left-wing Coalition
5 / 108(5%)
11 / 188(6%)
1 / 32(3%)
8 / 418(2%)
15 / 1,102
Jorge Robledo
Iván Cepeda
SI, FSP PHxC
COLOMBIA JUSTA Libres.svg Fair and Free Colombia
Colombia Justa Libres
CJL2017 Right-wing Independent
3 / 108(3%)
1 / 172(0.6%)
2 / 32(6%)
2 / 418(0.5%)
14 / 1,102
David Castro NUC  [ es ]
Logo Partido MIRA.svg Independent Movement of
Absolute Renovation

Movimiento Independiente de
Renovación Absoluta
MIRA2000 Center-right
to right-wing
Independent
3 / 108(3%)
1 / 172(0.6%)
0 / 32(0%)
8 / 418(2%)
0 / 1,102
Carlos Guevara AMI NUC  [ es ]
Humane Colombia
Colombia Humana
CH2019 Left-wing populism
Progressivism
Environmentalism
Anti-imperialism
Feminism
Center-left to left-wing Coalition
5 / 108(5%)
13 / 188(7%)
1 / 32(3%)
8 / 418(2%)
8 / 1,102
Gustavo Petro GdP  [ es ] PHxC
Dignity and Commitment  [ es ]
Dignidad y Compromiso
2020 Center-left Independent
0 / 108(0%)
1 / 188(0.5%)
0 / 32(0%)
2 / 418(0.5%)
0 / 1,102
Juan Ospina PA CdE
NUEVO LIBERALISMO.svg New Liberalism
Nuevo Liberalismo
1979 Liberalism
Social liberalism
Centre Independent
0 / 108(0%)
1 / 188(0.5%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Juan Manuel Galán  [] CdE
Logo Union Patriotica Colombia.png Patriotic Union
Unión Patriótica
UP1985 Marxism
Democratic socialism
Bolivarianism
Progressivism
Left-wing populism
Pacifism
Left-wing Coalition
4 / 108(4%)
1 / 188(0.5%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Aída Abella  [ es ] FSP PHxC
Partido Comunista Colombiano.svg Colombian Communist Party
Partido Comunista Colombiano
PC2021 Socialism
Communism
Marxism–Leninism
Anti-imperialism
Left-wing to far-left Coalition
0 / 108(0%)
0 / 188(0%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Jaime Caycedo FSP PHxC
Salvacion Nacional (Colombia).svg National Salvation Movement
Movimiento de Salvación Nacional
MSN2021 Right-wing Opposition
0 / 108(0%)
0 / 188(0%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Enrique Gómez Martínez
Logo of the League of Anti-Corruption Governors.svg League of Anti-Corruption Governors
Liga de Gobernantes Anticorrupción
LIGA2022 Far-right Opposition
0 / 108(0%)
0 / 188(0%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Rodolfo Hernández
Movimiento En Marcha Colombia.png On Going!
En Marcha
EM2022 Centrism
Social liberalism
Federalism
Centre to centre-left Independent
3 / 108(3%)
0 / 188(0%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
CdE
Fuerza Ciudadana (Colombia) 2.svg Citizen Force
Fuerza Ciudadana
FC2022 Social democracy
Federalism
Centre-left Coalition
0 / 108(0%)
1 / 188(0.5%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Carlos Caicedo
Partido Fuerza de La Paz.png The Peace Force
La Fuerza De La Paz
FP2022 Center to center-left Coalition
1 / 108(0.9%)
1 / 188(0.5%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Roy Barreras PHxC
Independent
Independientes
2023 Left-wing Coalition
1 / 108(0.9%)
1 / 188(0.5%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
1 / 1,102
PHxC
Esperanza Democratica Logo.png Democratic Hope
Esperanza Democrática
2023 Left-wing Coalition
0 / 108(0%)
0 / 188(0%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Nueva Fuerza Democratica Logo.png New Democratic Force
Nueva Fuerza Democrática
NFD2023 Right-wing Opposition
0 / 108(0%)
0 / 188(0%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Partido Verde Oxigeno.svg Oxygen Green Party
Partido Verde Oxígeno
PVO1998 Center Opposition
0 / 108(0%)
0 / 188(0%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Íngrid Betancourt CdE
Todos Somos Colombia Logo.png We Are All Colombian
Todos Somos Colombia
2023 Centre-left to left-wing Coalition
1 / 108(0.9%)
1 / 188(0.5%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Clara López PHxC
CreemosColombiaRec.png We believe Colombia
Creemos Colombia
2023 Center-right Opposition
0 / 108(0%)
0 / 188(0%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Federico Gutiérrez
Gente en Movimiento Logo.png People on the Move
Gente En Movimiento
GEM2021 Center Coalition
0 / 108(0%)
1 / 188(0.5%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Mauricio Lizcano
Partido del Trabajo de Colombia.svg Worker's Party
Partido del Trabajo de Colombia
PTC1999 Marxism
Anti-imperialism
New Democracy
Left-wing Coalition
0 / 108(0%)
0 / 188(0%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Yezid García Abello PHxC
I Am Because We Are
Soy Porque Somos
SPS2023 Feminism
Environmentalism
Indigenismo
Progressivism
Anti-racism
Left-wing Coalition
0 / 108(0%)
1 / 188(0.5%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Francia Márquez PHxC
Poder Popular Logo.png Popular Power
Poder Popular
2023 Center-left Coalition
0 / 108(0%)
0 / 188(0%)
0 / 32(0%)
0 / 418(0%)
0 / 1,102
Ernesto Samper

Corruption

International organization participation

Global

United Nations

World Bank

Other

Regional

Notes

  1. 1 2 Withdrew before election but appeared on ballot
  2. As observer.

References

  1. 1 2 Fuentes, Juan-Andrés. "Research Guides: Colombian Legal Research: Basic Legal Structure". guides.library.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  2. Democracy Index 2023: Age of Conflict (PDF). Economist Intelligence Unit (Report). 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-06-09. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  3. Bruce M. Wilson, "Institutional Reform and Rights Revolutions in Latin America: The Cases of Costa Rica and Colombia", Journal of Politics in Latin America, ISSN   1868-4890
  4. "Colombia 1991 (rev. 2015) Constitution". Article 202: Constitute Project. Retrieved 22 May 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  5. L, Elizabeth Reyes (4 June 2015). "Colombian lawmakers approve a one-term limit for presidents". EL PAÍS English Edition.
  6. Botero Marino, Botero Marino; Fernando Jaramillo. "El Conflicto de las Cortes Colombianas en Torno a la Tutela Contra Sentencias" (PDF). Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  7. Sonneland, Holly K. (28 June 2017). "Explainer: Colombia's 2018 Elections". AS/COA. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  8. Colombia. "¿Cómo funciona el proceso de inscripción de cédulas?". Colombia. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  9. Secretaria General del Senado. "Acto Legislativo número 02 de 2015". Secretariasenado.gov.co (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2021. El candidato que le siga en votos a quien la autoridad electoral declare elegido en el cargo de Presidente y Vicepresidente de la República, Gobernador de Departamento, Alcalde Distrital y Alcalde municipal tendrá el derecho personal a ocupar una curul en el Senado, Cámara de Representantes, Asamblea Departamental, Concejo Distrital y Concejo Municipal, respectivamente, durante el período de la correspondiente corporación.
  10. "ESCRUTINIO NACIONAL CONGRESO 2022". registraduria.gov. 20 July 2022.
  11. "ESCRUTINIO NACIONAL CONGRESO 2022". registraduria.gov. 20 July 2022.

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