The promoters of constitutional referendum that seeks greater fiscal autonomy for the regions of the country A total of 3,331,000 signatures were filed this Friday with the National Registry of Civil Status.
“We achieved the goal. After touring more than 20 departments of the country during the last six months promoting the fiscal autonomy referendum for the regions, today we will deliver more than 3,331,500 signatures to the National Registry. I thank all the local governors and mayors who joined. Fiscal autonomy must comply with a basic principle, the non-intermediation of the Central Government in transfers“said the former Minister of Justice Wilson Ruizone of the promoters of the initiative that was born from an idea of the governor of Antioquia, Andrés Julián Rendón, and which also includes the councilor of Bogotá Juan Daniel Oviedo, the former governor of Meta Juan Guillermo Zuluaga, the former senator María del Rosario War, among others.
(You can read: Petro ends the first period of the third legislature with important challenges).
This is the first requirement to call on Colombians to go to the polls and decide if they want to modify the Political Constitution with the aim that the taxes paid in the departments stay there.
Andrés Julián Rendón, governor of Antioquia
FND
“What we are looking for is to modify article 298 of the Political Constitution so that it is stipulated that the direct taxes on income and assets that the nation currently administers are directly administered by the departments. It is important to say that no department is going to receive less budget than what it is already receiving. On the contrary, they will increase by up to 50 percent“former Minister Ruiz explained to EL TIEMPO at the time.
(Further: National Budget must return to 2023 levels to comply with the fiscal rule).
However, there is still a long way to go, since, first of all, The Registry must certify that 5% of the electoral roll supported this initiative. This means that, of the 3,500,000 forms delivered to the Registry, 2,027,199 must be valid.
If this stage can be overcome, Congress must process a law that will subsequently be reviewed by the Constitutional Court.. If these requirements comply with what is established by law, the President of the Republic must call the referendum and Colombians will go to the polls and decide whether or not to modify the Constitution.
It is a procedure that can take up to two years, so it would not intersect with the presidential and legislative elections of 2026.
Points to the reform of the participation system
Although this referendum also seeks greater fiscal autonomy for the regions, as proposed by the reform of the General Participation System (SGP) that the Congress of the Republic approved weeks ago, are two very different proposals.4
(Besides: What should be Colombia’s roadmap with its finances for 2025?).
The Minister of the Interior, Juan Fernando Cristo Bustos.
Cesar Melgarejo – Portfolio
In the case of this project, promoted by the Minister of the Interior, Juan Fernando Cristosince before entering the Government, seeks to increase transfers from the General Budget of the Nation to the departments, from 23% to 39%, while the referendum seeks to ensure that specific taxes remain in each territorial jurisdiction.
(You may be interested in: How are the surcharges on Sundays and holidays with the increase in the minimum wage?).
“The National Government project, although it opens a necessary discussion, does not respond to the expectations of autonomy, since it continues to centralize control over transfers. In addition, it increases public spending from 4.2 to 7.2% of GDP, impacting the Fiscal Rule and increasing the deficit, which generates risks for economic sustainability. In contrast, the referendum proposes redirecting specific taxes towards the regions, strengthening their autonomy without destabilizing public finances or compromising access to fundamental rights or key sectors. Its objective is to achieve balanced fiscal autonomy and minimize the risks that could lead the Constitutional Court to review or suspend the law due to its possible negative effects.“they asserted since the referendum.
PORTFOLIO
*With information from EL TIEMPO – POLITICS
