Not even 24 hours have passed since the National Budget project for 2025 was filed and the first complaints of “tricks” that the National Government intends to carry out are already known and that, on this occasion, would put the legislative and presidential elections of 2026 at risk, with fiscal movements. which mainly affect the autonomy of the National Civil Registry.
Through her social networks, Senator Angélica Lozano revealed that after After thoroughly analyzing the final proposal from the Casa de Nariño, which must be approved before 11:59 p.m. on September 24 or it will be unconstitutional, they discovered that more than $3 billion was taken from the entities that are part of the electoral system, which will remain under the guardianship of the Treasury portfolio.
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The first part of this money was cut from the National Registry, whose initial allocation was $3.2 billion and in the final report it was reduced to just $732.22 billion, which barely covers operating expenses. Thus, this entity would receive $2.5 billion less, that is, 77.4% less.
‘Nothing soft’
In previous investigations, Portafolio spoke with sources from the Registry about the high amount they were going to receive and from there it was explained that they are necessary resources because 2025 is a pre-election year where tasks such as staff training, logistical preparation and the preparation of the material that is usually carried out. demands an event like the presidential and congressional elections to be held in 2026.
Angelica Lozano.
THE TIME file
It should be noted that at a first glance at the project filed in July, it was seen that the operating needs that were initially projected rose by more than $2 billion in that area for the Registry, reaching $3.08 billion, for a percentage variation of 200.7% with respect to what was granted in 2023 for the term that is currently running.
According to Senator Lozano’s complaint, with these changes in the expense accounts This is a “not at all soft” blow to the autonomy that entities such as the National Civil Registry should have, especially in pre-election periods, where money is needed and, above all, freedom and respect to decide how they should use it with a view to guaranteeing impartiality and transparency in the upcoming elections.
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“They are destroying the autonomy and capacity of the Registry. The elections begin on March 8, 2026, and by taking away its resources, who is going to organize the elections? The Pact? The government is dealing a very serious blow to the Registry, an autonomous entity that, nothing more and nothing less, organizes, convenes, conducts and is responsible for the elections,” said the congresswoman.
Blow to the CNE
Another entity that completes the $3 billion that was reported from Congress is the National Electoral Council, which in the new accounts loses 54.2% of the money that was initially expected to be received. in the initial proposal, as it goes from $1.06 billion to $488.867 billion, that is, $577.995 less.
Colombian pesos
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The Ministry of Finance also commented on this controversy and explained that “every year the RNEC election resources are programmed as distributions from the Treasury. This is always done as indicated in the presidential message,” warning that what they seek is to ensure that the money is used correctly.
“This year we had initially decided to place them in the Registry Office but We found that there were resources that we did not know if they were all going to be used or not. That is why we moved them in the presentation,” he added in his message, which was interpreted by various sectors as an attempt to interfere with the 2026 elections.
What’s next for the Budget?
This new scandal that has arisen around the Budget adds pressure to the process of the initiative that will be voted on today, Tuesday, September 24, in the economic commissions and strengthens the possibility that the income and expenditure accounts will end up being decreed; since several legislators stated that this “monkey” was introduced without telling them during the announcement session that took place last Monday, September 23.
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It should be noted that although the Ministry of Finance maintained the need for $523 billion, this request does not have majority support, as does the financing law that would collect the $12 billion that are missing from this expenditure projection, which is why they insist on the need to lower this amount.
According to the Organic Budget Statute, the current dates to be met include September 24, the deadline for approval in the first debate, and October 20, which is when the entire project must be ready and approved for 2025. If this is not met due to the Government’s fault, the Budget will be defined by taking what was approved in the current PGN with adjustments for economic growth, and if the fault falls on Congress, the Executive can withdraw it by decree.
National budget debate
Cesar Melgarejo/ CEET
Likewise, we must not forget that the disagreement that remains latent among the congressmen and delegates from the Casa de Nariño, led to the failure to meet the first deadline on September 15 for the economic commissions to define the amount of expenses in the Budget, so this task was left for the current week, despite the fact that this opens the risk of lawsuits of unconstitutionality.
In the event that the proposal fails or the Budget ends up being approved by decree, the new question that remains on the table is what amount should be taken, since the law says that the amount approved in the first debate will be taken, which does not currently exist, while sectors close to the Government warn that the proposal alone serves as a starting point to build these accounts.
However, the Organic Budget Statute states that when the project fails due to the fault of the National Government and it is proven that there is no negligence on the part of Congress, the current rule must be taken as a starting point, that is, the $503 billion of the current PGN, to which only the increase in nominal GDP would be adjusted.
