The first large pulse between the Government and the Congress on the General Budget of the Nation 2026 already has an outcome, at least in this first stage, after the official proposal of $ 557 billion presented by the Executive sink into the joint economic commissions, but at the same time an alternative presentation was approved that sets the expense at $ 546.9 billion, that is, $ 10 billion less than the Ministry of Finance had initially raised.
The turn is not a minor detail, if one takes into account that Congress marked distance with the original government goal, but at the same time opened the door to a negotiation path that prevents the budget from being defined by decree.
As they said from the Senate to Portafolio, the 2026 budget “has life” and the purpose in the Senate and Chamber plenaries is to subtract 16.3 additional billion and approve them in 530.6 billion.
“All special authorizations will also be eliminated,” the sources added.
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Likewise, as announced by the Minhacienda, the reduction of $ 10 billion not only adjusts the size of the budget, but also impacts the Tax Financing or Reform Law that sought to raise $ 26.3 billion and was also resigned, leaving $ 16.28 billion.
For now there are no agreements in Congress against PGN 2026.
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A presentation that did not pass the test
The story began in the Fourth Senate Commission, where the vote ended 5-4 against the official presentation. This result was enough to knock the initial proposal, because the rule establishes that it is enough that One of the four economic commissions rejects the presentation so that it sinks automatically.
The rejection evidenced the discomfort of several congressmen in the face of a budget that, although ambitious, demanded a tax adjustment too large for the current political and economic environment and with an economy that still faces fiscal and social pressures, asking for more than $ 26 additional taxes in taxes was difficult to defend.
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The answer was not long in coming and an alternative presentation was presented in the same sessionwhich proposed to lower the amount to $ 546.9 billion, headed by representative Olga Lucía Velásquez. This formula, which seemed in principle an intermediate exit, was gaining support quickly and in the end it was imposed.
The surprising thing was that the Minister of Finance himself, Germán Ávila, was willing to support the adjustment and with it, the Executive made it clear that he preferred a cut rather than having to resort to the route of the decree, as was done for the validity in progress, which would have been interpreted as a new distancing between the branches of power.
This will be a key week for the 2026 budget accounts.
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The votes spoke for themselves. In the Third Chamber Commission, the result was 23 votes in favor and 3 against. In the Fourth Chamber Commission, changes with 22 positive and 4 negative votes were approved. In the Senate, The Third Commission gave its approval with 13 votes in favor and only 1 against, while the Fourth Commission closed with 9 votes in favor and 3 against.
It should be noted that this scissors allow the debate on the tax reform, since instead of insisting on a collection of $ 26 billion, the Executive may rethink the amount down, which could give it more margin to negotiate with the business parties and sectors and in practice, it is a tactical replication to avoid a frontal clash with the legislative.
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A new pulse begins
Although it is a cut of only $ 10 billion, it is symbolically important and sends the message that Congress is not willing to sign a blank check and require fiscal prudence. In addition, it opens the question about which items will have to adjust; I immediately look at issues such as social programs, investment in infrastructure, transfers to territories or debt service.
The joint economic commissions also gave a large part of the articles of the bill, which is all served for the debate in the plenaries of the Senate and the House of Representatives, which must be fulfilled before October 20 or again would talk about a decrees.
For now there are no agreements in Congress against PGN 2026.
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It must also be said that while several opposition members supported this presentation to prevent the decision from being in the hands of President Petro, they made it clear that they will not support the Financing Law, Therefore, an agitated debate is expected around this issue in the coming weeks.
With the first debate overcome, the 2026 budget project now goes to its discussion in plenaries. There the tensions will return, because it is not only about defining the global amount, but also specifying how it will be executed and how it will be financed. The Government will insist on the need to protect social programs, while Congress will put the magnifying glass in the efficiency of spending and investment priorities.
Daniel Hernández Naranjo
Portfolio journalist
