Currently, a congressman in Colombia earns more than $40 million on average, not counting the bonuses and commissions derived from his work in the Legislature. This figure is something that makes many people on the streets uncomfortable and some politicians They have tried to modify without being successful in the fight for an adjustment that alleviates the Nation’s accounts.
However, in the period that will begin in less than two weeks, this discussion will occur again, after several congressmen, led by Iván Cepeda, filed a new bill that seeks to put a cap on these increases, according to them, so that there is equity and those resources can be used for other things.
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This initiative consists of just two paragraphs in which it is said that the remuneration of congressmen cannot exceed the current 20 legal monthly minimum wages and will be readjusted annually in equal proportion. to the increase in the minimum wage, without this serving as a reference for the increase of other officials.
María Fernanda Carrascal, representative of the Chamber, supported this initiative and stated that learning from the mistakes of the past, the new text uses a different formula that aims to shield its objective from possible objections due to technical issues, as has happened on previous occasions. .
Colombian pesos
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“Fiscally, the country is clearly in a very complicated situation, very tight. We know that the budget is underfunded, that the financing law was sunk here, they celebrated it, and that has many entities, the contractors, in check. So, it is truly a moment for us, as congressmen, to also give a little of the much that we have received for so long,” he indicated.
Carrascal closed by saying that “it is time to show the country that we can also tighten our belts and in this way truly bet on the dynamization of the country’s economy. I feel, let’s say, an atmosphere of optimism seeing the number of congressmen who are going to support the project, even some opposition parties, not all.”
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On the other hand, regarding the entry into force, the project says that it would be from July 20, 2026, that is, when the next four-year period for the Senate and the House of Representatives begins. However, it also has a section that opens the possibility for congressmen who If they wish, their salary will be lowered as soon as the rule is sanctioned by the Presidency of the Republic.
If this law is passed, the salary of congressmen for the period 2026 – 2030 would drop from just over $48 million to around $28.4 billion, generating a reduction of almost 40% in fees. This has been a measure that has generated conflicting positions in Congress, since some support it, but others maintain that acquired rights are violated.
Plenary in the House of Representatives
THE TIME
Together with Iván Cepeda, who is currently defending this project, 56 more congressmen are supporting its approval, among them Humberto de la Calle, Mauricio Gómez Amin, Gabriel Becerra and Clara López; who indicated that a common front must be formed to guarantee that the Legislature gives the green light to their proposal.
“It is time for congressmen to stop being a privileged elite and set an example of leadership committed to reducing inequality. This project not only represents an economic measure, but also an action of austerity in the public sphere, aligned with the government’s plan to promote social justice,” declared Senator Cepeda.
This is not the first time that a project of this nature reaches Congress. Between 2015 and 2021, they passed through the Legislature There were at least ten projects that sought to reduce the salaries of congressmen, but none of them prospered.
