Juan Daniel Oviedo, the vice-presidential running mate of candidate Paloma Valencia, has begun to take a position on one of the most sensitive topics in the national debate: the future of the transitional justice system created after the peace agreement with the former FARC.
The recently confirmed vice-presidential candidate on the right-wing Paloma Valencia ticket stated that a potential government from that bloc would guarantee the continuity of the peace tribunal and the necessary resources for its operation.
The statement from the former director of DANE—who in last Sunday’s interparty consultation received more than 1,250,000 votes—marks a significant political signal within a sector that for years harshly criticized the 2016 agreement signed between the Colombian State and the former FARC guerrilla.
In his first statements as a vice-presidential candidate, Oviedo said that the country must respect the institutional commitments assumed by the State and keep the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), the tribunal created to try the most serious crimes of the armed conflict, operational.
Oviedo pledges to fund Colombia’s peace agreement if Paloma Valencia wins
Oviedo affirmed that one of the commitments of the ticket he is part of alongside Valencia will be to ensure that the tribunal has the resources needed to fulfill its mandate. In his view, the discussion about the transitional justice system should not focus on its elimination but on its ability to produce results.
The vice-presidential candidate explained—according to today’s report in Semana magazine—that the priority will be to guarantee sufficient funding so that the tribunal can advance investigations and judicial decisions related to crimes committed during the armed conflict. In that context, he stated that a potential government from his coalition would commit to ensuring the institutional operation of the body.
“The agreement we have defined is to work tirelessly so that all economic and institutional resources are assigned to this transitional justice system under our government,” said the centrist politician.
The JEP is the judicial component of the transitional justice system created after the 2016 peace agreement signed between the Colombian government and the former FARC guerrilla. Its role is to investigate and judge serious crimes committed during the armed conflict, including human rights violations and war crimes.
According to Oviedo, guaranteeing the continuity of the tribunal is also a way to preserve the institutional credibility of the Colombian State before the victims of the conflict and the international community. In his opinion, the country should focus on evaluating the results of the system and strengthening its operation, rather than reopening debates that were already resolved within the institutional framework.
A shift in the right-wing tone
The economist’s statements reflect a shift in tone within sectors of the Uribista right that have historically questioned the peace agreement. For years, the Democratic Center party—led by former President Álvaro Uribe—criticized the functioning of the transitional justice system, and particularly the role of the JEP.
Paloma Valencia herself was one of the most critical voices of the tribunal in Congress. In various parliamentary debates, she questioned the powers of the body and the scope of the sanctions outlined in the peace agreement.
Oviedo’s inclusion as a vice-presidential running mate has been interpreted by analysts as an attempt to broaden Valencia’s electoral spectrum toward more moderate sectors, creating a distinct profile in relation to the right’s so far favored candidate, led by independent Abelardo De la Espriella.
The economist gained political prominence during his tenure as head of the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) under President Iván Duque—also a member of Democratic Center—and later received significant votes in his 2023 candidacy for Mayor of Bogotá.
Since entering the national political debate, Oviedo has defended more pragmatic positions regarding the implementation of the peace agreement. On several occasions, he has stated that, beyond political differences over the process, the Colombian State has an obligation to fulfill the commitments it undertook.
This has earned him an image as a centrist and independent—somewhat technocratic—candidate, recognized and appreciated by urban and young voters, especially in Bogotá.
He elegido como coequipero a Juan Daniel Oviedo. Su respaldo popular demuestra que está conectando con colombianos que quieren ser vistos y escuchados. Colombia necesita equipos serios, que conozcan los problemas y ofrezcan soluciones reales. 🇨🇴
#PalomaPresidente pic.twitter.com/Qwk81gviYE
— Paloma Valencia L (@PalomaValenciaL) March 12, 2026
Respect for the State’s commitments
The vice-presidential candidate insisted that the 2016 agreement constitutes an institutional framework that cannot be ignored by subsequent governments. In his view, the country’s legal and political stability largely depends on the State’s ability to respect the commitments it has made.
The agreement signed with the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) established a comprehensive system of truth, justice, reparation, and non-repetition. Within this institutional framework, the JEP’s role is to investigate and sanction the most serious crimes committed during decades of armed conflict.
Oviedo stated that the challenge for the coming years will be to consolidate this institutional system and rigorously evaluate the results it has produced so far. In his view, the country needs to advance in the implementation of the agreement with a pragmatic approach that strengthens justice while ensuring political stability.
The economist also said that the political debate should focus on improving the effectiveness of the institutions created by the agreement, rather than questioning their existence. According to him, the goal should be to ensure that the transitional justice system fulfills its function of clarifying the truth and offering reparation to victims.
A message to the moderate electorate
Oviedo’s statements also have a clear electoral dimension. In a politically polarized scenario, his discourse seeks to send a signal to sectors of the electorate that support the peace process or consider it necessary to preserve the institutions that emerged from the agreement.
For some analysts, his position reflects an attempt to balance the right-wing presidential campaign. While Valencia maintains her political identity within Uribismo, Oviedo’s presence introduces a more moderate discourse on sensitive issues such as transitional justice and national reconciliation.
The candidate himself has acknowledged that differences in approach regarding some aspects of the peace agreement exist within the coalition. However, he maintains that these differences can be resolved within a common framework based on respect for the State’s institutional commitments.
Amid a presidential campaign that is just beginning, the future of the transitional justice system thus returns to the center of the political debate. The vice-presidential candidate’s statements suggest that even within sectors that historically questioned the agreement, a more pragmatic stance on the continuity of institutions arising from the peace process is beginning to consolidate.