A recent political firestorm has erupted in Colombia following controversial remarks made by Alfredo Saade, the President’s Chief of Staff, suggesting that Gustavo Petro should remain in power for 20 years.
“Petro needs more time to complete his project. Twenty years, at least”, Saade stated during a political rally earlier this week. While he emphasized the need for long-term structural change, the suggestion of such an extended stay in office has raised alarm bells over the future of Colombia’s democratic institutions.
In Colombia, an elected president can serve only one four-year term and is not eligible for reelection, whether for consecutive or non-consecutive terms.
Petro’s Chief of Staff suggests Petro should remain in power for 20 years
In an interview with the outlet Política Sin Formato, Saade stirred further concern and controversy by stating: “We don’t just need a constituent assembly—we need President Petro to remain in office for the next twenty years as President of the Republic. That’s why I’ve told the country it’s necessary to start talking about reelection. Now everyone’s saying that former presidents could run again—well, that’s exactly the idea,” he asserted.
Reelection has been a source of concern for a large majority of Colombians ever since Petro came to power. As such, even the mere mention of presidential reelection is enough to provoke anxiety. Now, with the President’s Chief of Staff reinforcing the idea so explicitly and with such conviction, those fears have only intensified. The remarks come at a time when, according to the most recent opinion polls, the Petro administration is losing public support and facing growing discontent from a significant portion of the population.
Saade’s rhetoric dangerously echoes that of leaders in Venezuela and Nicaragua—countries where democratic backsliding and indefinite reelection have led to entrenched authoritarianism. For now, Colombia’s 1991 Constitution strictly limits presidents to a single four-year term following a 2015 law which prohibited presidential reelection. Any change to that rule would require a constitutional reform—a high bar that demands not only congressional approval but also significant popular support. Given the current political landscape, and despite rising fears, such a change remains a distant and nearly unattainable aspiration for President Petro.
Widespread criticism emerges after Saade’s remarks
Leaders from various opposition parties were quick to denounce Saade’s comments. Former President Iván Duque warned, “Colombia is not a dictatorship and will never be one,” while members of the centrist coalition Coalición de la Esperanza called on President Petro to publicly distance himself from any proposal suggesting constitutional overreach.
Human rights organizations and legal experts also weighed in. “This is not just a political misstep—this is a direct affront to the rule of law,” said María Camila Rodríguez, a constitutional law professor at Los Andes University. “Even entertaining the idea of extending presidential power undermines the democratic gains Colombia has fought so hard to protect,” she added.
So far, President Petro has remained silent on the matter, fueling speculation about whether the idea has support behind closed doors. Some analysts suggest that keeping the issue ambiguous may be a political tactic to gauge public reaction before pursuing any formal legislative action.
Saade, for his part, attempted to clarify his position in a later interview, stating that his remarks were “aspirational” and not a formal proposal. Despite his efforts to walk back the statement, the damage was already done—his comments reignited a deep-seated fear among many Colombians.
A call for a Constituent Assembly?
In addition to advocating for extended presidential rule, Saade also pushed for a new constituent assembly, a move that, if realized, would grant sweeping power to rewrite the Colombian constitution.
For supporters of Petro’s leftist project, this could be a way to institutionalize reforms in social justice, land redistribution, and environmental protections. But for critics, it opens the door to weakening the separation of powers and removing democratic safeguards. As said by Senator David Luna, “this is an authoritarian playbook we’ve seen before, if Petro wants 20 years in power, he should be reminded that Colombia is not Venezuela”.
Saade’s statements also prompted a response from Justice Minister Eduardo Montealegre who added fuel to the fire by suggesting that a vote to decide whether a constituent assembly should be convened in Colombia could take place in March 2026, alongside congressional elections.
Montealegre reinforced the idea that Colombia needs a new political constitution in order to bring about the deep, structural changes the country requires.
Whether Saade’s comments were a trial balloon or merely political hyperbole, they have ignited a crucial national conversation about the balance between change and continuity, and the importance of upholding democratic norms in such uncertain times for Colombia.
What lies ahead for Colombia? That’s a question that will only be answered once President Petro’s term comes to an end. The upcoming electoral climate will play a decisive role in shaping Colombia’s political future.