Colombia’s President‑Elect Abelardo de la Espriella, in his third national address since being elected, announced on July 13 a major restructuring of the presidential administrative structure, eliminating multiple advisory councils and agencies and abolishing the position of Peace Commissioner. De la Espriella said the move aims to avoid “duplication of functions and waste” and to build a “lean, efficient, results‑oriented” state.
Multiple Agencies Dismantled, 229 Positions Eliminated
Under the reform plan announced by de la Espriella, the agencies to be abolished include the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace, the Advisory Council on National Reconciliation, and the Presidential Advisory Council on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. In addition, several other presidential offices whose functions overlap with those of line ministries will also be eliminated. The functions of the Unit for the Implementation of the Final Peace Agreement will be transferred to the newly created National Security Commissioner. The Presidential Regional Advisory Council will not be dissolved but will be transformed into a “Regional Administration Bureau” responsible for coordinating relations between the central government and local departments and municipalities.
De la Espriella said the reform would eliminate about 229 positions, saving the government approximately 10 billion pesos (about €2.7 million) in annual fiscal expenditure. The funds saved would be used for “projects that directly benefit the Colombian people.” He emphasised: “I want to transform the structure of the Presidency into an administrative coordination centre, with a lean staff, no ties, no positions used to pay political favours or bureaucratic quotas. This will be a lean, efficient, always results‑oriented structure.”
“No More False Peace Processes”
The most closely watched aspect of the reform is the abolition of the Peace Commissioner position. In his address, de la Espriella made it clear: “The Peace Commissioner will cease to exist, because there will be no more false peace processes in my government.” He announced that, as of his formal inauguration on August 7, the government’s top priority will be “guaranteeing the security of the people and completely eradicating the current prevailing impunity system that feeds criminality.”
At the same time, de la Espriella criticised the “Total Peace” policy promoted by the outgoing government of President Gustavo Petro. He instructed the new National Security Commissioner, the Minister of Justice, and the Minister of the Interior to “immediately eradicate, in accordance with the Constitution and the law, all impunity hidden behind the illusion of false peace.”
He also took aim at the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) – the transitional justice mechanism established under the 2016 peace agreement. De la Espriella criticised the JEP for authorising Rodrigo Londoño, alias “Timochenko,” the last leader of the former FARC guerrilla group, to travel to Spain for an event. “The war criminal Timochenko should be sentenced to life imprisonment. I will work for that,” he said.
Reform Sparks Controversy
This reform is one of the most controversial policies announced by de la Espriella since he defeated left‑wing candidate Iván Cepeda in the second‑round vote on June 21. Abolishing the Peace Commissioner means that Colombia will cease political negotiations with illegal armed groups, a move that has drawn concern from international human rights organisations and some international media. Analysts have pointed out that the lack of institutionalised negotiation channels could exacerbate cycles of violence and reduce the likelihood of peaceful resolution of armed conflicts.
Meanwhile, de la Espriella’s plan to hold his inauguration ceremony at a military base in the south has also brought him into direct conflict with current President Petro. Petro has ordered that no military or police facilities be used for the inaugural ceremony, emphasising that the Constitution requires the ceremony to take place in Congress. De la Espriella responded that he would ignore the “opposition of the outgoing government.”
De la Espriella also announced the creation of a digital platform called the “National Talent Bank,” promising that all future public appointments would be based purely on merit and performance, putting an end to “nepotism” and “political favour‑trading.” He also appointed María Nohemí Arboleda, an electrical engineer with 30 years of industry experience, as Minister of Mines and Energy.
The restructuring of the presidential agencies will take effect after de la Espriella is formally inaugurated on August 7.