Mayors reiterate their call for the approval of the Competition Law at the Fedemunicipios summit.

On its second day, the National Congress of Municipalities, held in Cartagena, brought together local authorities and government representatives to discuss key issues affecting territorial management and the country's development. The day was marked by topics such as electoral organization, social policy, transportation, digital connectivity, and the urgent need to advance the Competition Law.

The session opened with a presentation by registrar Hernán Penagos, who addressed topics such as the organization of atypical elections, the Municipal Youth Councils, and the 2026 electoral process.

Regarding the first issue, the registrar called on Congress to review and legislate on coalitions and dual membership for support, situations that, he warned, are generating political instability in several municipalities, dismissals, and a high number of atypical elections.

“There's no precedent in Colombia for nearly 30 atypical elections between mayors and governors. We already had the one in Putumayo, in a month it will be in Vichada, and there are final decisions regarding the governorship of San Andrés. These elections aren't always budgeted, as they respond to exceptional situations,” he stated.

Likewise, the registrar addressed the referendum promoted by the government in a conversation with the media and reiterated that it will cost approximately 750 billion pesos. "It is a resource that must necessarily be processed through the Ministry of Finance. Remember that the Registry works, if desired, on demand, and to the extent that, for example, referendums, citizen participation mechanisms, or mayoral and gubernatorial elections are approved," he added.

Following the registrar's intervention, the mayor of Tunja, Mikhail Krasnov, moderated a panel on social policy in education and health. The Ministers of Health, Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo, and Education, Daniel Rojas, were scheduled to attend, but neither attended. At this event, former Bogotá Education Secretary Edna Bonilla and Senator Alejandro Chacón, echoing the views expressed by several mayors on Wednesday, called on the national government to prioritize the allocation of resources to teaching staff and educational infrastructure.

Next, it was time to talk about transportation. In this panel, several local leaders asked the national government and Congress to work together to combat the motorcycle taxi phenomenon in cities, in order to reduce accident rates in small and medium-sized municipalities. Mariantonia Tabares, director of the National Road Safety Agency, stated that the solution is not a ban—as some local leaders are calling for—but regulation.

“Telling people whose sole livelihood depends on this activity that they can't do so can have the opposite effect. What we need to do is find ways to reach these people. Our organization is already conducting campaigns aimed at reducing this accident rate and risk factors,” the official said.

Another central topic of the day was artificial intelligence and its application in cities, as well as digital connectivity. The opening address was given by the Minister of ICT, Julián Molina, who spoke about the national government's investment in sixth-tier municipalities to close the digital divide.

“Digital poverty in Colombia is not just a concept: it's a reality that affects 34 percent of the population. Only 10 percent of households can afford connectivity without exceeding 2 percent of their income. That has to change, and we are already doing so,” the minister said.

Finally, the Powers Law, as was the case on Wednesday, dominated much of the day. The mayors insist on the need to advance the bill that seeks to redefine the responsibilities of territorial entities (departments, districts, and municipalities) following the approval of the reform to the General Participation System.

The Fedemunicipios Congress will close this Friday with the participation of Gilles Bertrand, European Union Ambassador to Colombia, and the Minister of the Interior, Armando Benedetti. The latter will participate in a forum on security guarantees and the protection of constitutional rights in the territories, along with Juliana Coronado, Deputy Minister of Defense and Security. A panel will also be held on the nutrition of inmates, one of the central topics of this edition of the congress, and the election of the new president of the federation.

CAMILO A. CASTILLOPolitical EditorSpecial Envoy to CartagenaX: (@camiloandres894)