Pacto Histórico Emerges as the Leading Force in Colombia’s Congress
On Sunday, Colombians elected the new members of Congress: 103 senators and 183 representatives who will shape the legislative agenda until 2030. With 23% of the vote, the ruling coalition Pacto Histórico consolidated itself as the leading political force, while Centro Democrático, with 16%, positioned itself as the second most voted bloc.
In the Senate, the ruling coalition increased its seats from 20 to 25, although it remains far from the 52 seats needed for an absolute majority. Centro Democrático consolidated itself as the second force with 17 seats and could gain support from ideologically aligned parties such as Cambio Radical or the new Salvación Nacional bloc. Traditional parties — the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party — maintained their representation with 13 and 10 seats respectively, and their support remains key for the approval of legislation, as does that of smaller caucuses with low party cohesion, such as Alianza Verde, the Party of the U, and Ahora Colombia.
In the Chamber of Representatives, Pacto Histórico prevailed in Bogotá and Valle del Cauca, two of the most populous districts, consolidating itself as the largest minority with 41 seats, although still short of the 92 seats needed for a majority. The Liberal Party, thanks to its strong territorial presence, remains the second force with 28 legislators. Meanwhile, Centro Democrático was one of the main winners, increasing its representation from 16 to 26 seats, with victories in Antioquia, Santander, and Meta.
At the same time, three coalitions held internal primaries ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for May 31. Paloma Valencia (Centro Democrático) won the center-right primary and is emerging as a competitive candidate for the first round, facing Iván Cepeda (Pacto Histórico) and Abelardo de la Espriella (Defensores de la Patria).