Although Colombia’s presidential elections are not scheduled until May 2026, the country’s political landscape is already bracing for significant shifts and upheavals. While the right-wing opposition is testing the waters in search of a unity candidate, the ruling left is exploring potential successors to President Gustavo Petro.
Among the many names being considered, several ministers are amongst the potential contenders.
Petro’s allies quietly prepare for 2026 presidential elections
The first round of the 2026 presidential election in Colombia is set for May 31, with legislative elections scheduled for March 8. The Colombian Constitution establishes two key deadlines for individuals seeking to run for office. Candidates for Congress (the Chamber of Deputies and Senate) must resign by March 2025, while candidates for the presidency and vice presidency must step down by May 31, 2025.
As these deadlines approach, the executive branch and the political arena are preparing for a tumultuous start to the year. Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo hinted a few weeks ago that a cabinet reshuffle might occur early in the year, suggesting that ministers and other senior officials could launch campaigns.
Among the names that for months have been as potential candidates are Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo; Environment Minister Susana Muhamad; Colombia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Roy Barreras; and the interior minister himself.
Murillo and Muhamad, in particular, have been prominent figures in 2024. Both were influential local politicians before joining the government. Murillo has championed the Palestinian cause under President Petro, while Muhamad has become a leading advocate for ecology and feminism, especially during COP16.
However, according to Colombian political analysts, these ministers currently carry little weight in the presidential race.
Main presidential contenders amongst the Colombian left
In President Petro’s camp, Gustavo Bolívar stands out as a leading contender. A former senator and director of the Social Prosperity Department – an influential public agency in Colombia – Bolívar is widely regarded as a key figure on the left.
Martin Orozco, director of the Colombian polling institute Invamer, explained that Bolívar enjoys a strong position in the left due to his long-standing political career.
“The most well-known figure on the left is Gustavo Bolívar. About 60% of people know who he is, with a 22% favorability rating and a 31% unfavorability rating. Despite his high unfavorable rating, Bolívar is undeniably the strongest candidate right now for this sector of the left. Other candidates, like María José Pizarro, Luis Gilberto Murillo, Juan Fernando Cristo, Laura Sarabia, and Susana Muhamad, remain largely unknown at the moment,” he said.
María José Pizarro is another leftist gaining attention in the run for the presidency. A senator from Gustavo Petro’s Historic Pact party, she is a rising figure in Colombian politics. Closely linked to President Petro – her father was a comrade of Petro in the M-19 guerrilla movement – Pizarro has for months been advocating that the left must reunite for 2026 to counter the growing strength of the right.