Presidential candidate Sondra Macollins proposed eliminating Colombia’s 32 departments and replacing them with a system of autonomous regions. The initiative, which includes the disappearance of governorships, envisions a complete redesign of the current territorial model.
The proposal has sparked immediate reactions in the election campaign. While Macollins presents it as a solution to unlock regional development, experts warn that it would entail a fundamental modification of the State structure established in the Constitution.
As the model of territorial organization and the relationships between the center and the periphery continue to generate debate — in recent years the government proposed greater decentralization of governance, granting a more prominent role to departments — the campaign for the first round of the presidential election continues.
With 14 candidates setting their sights on the first round scheduled for Sunday, May 31, Macollins’ proposal once again puts on the table a structural debate about the country’s territorial organization that is not new and reflects the demands of many regions in favor of greater autonomy.
Colombia’s presidential candidate proposes eliminating departments
Macollins’ proposal consists of abolishing governorships and dismantling the departmental system to make way for new regional entities with greater autonomy. According to her diagnosis, departments have become a bureaucratic layer that slows down decision-making and project execution.
“Governorships have become a toll on development. The time has come to decentralize, to return power to mayors, and to build a Colombia designed for the people, not for bureaucracy,” Macollins said in her campaign’s official statement.
In her view, the current model maintains a vertical relationship in which many decisions still depend on the central government in Bogota. She argues that this limits the capacity of territories to respond and perpetuates inequalities between regions.
Macollins maintains that eliminating that intermediate level would allow for more direct governance between the Nation and municipalities. The goal is to simplify the State structure and reduce what she considers administrative duplication.
Como candidata presidencial propongo eliminar las 32 gobernaciones del país ya que hoy son un peaje al desarrollo.
Propongo eliminarlas y devolverle el poder a la gente.
¡Más eficiencia, menos burocracia! pic.twitter.com/iokzHaLKiz— Sondra Macollins (@SondraMacol) March 17, 2026
Autonomous regions with greater autonomy
The core of the proposal is the creation of autonomous regions with political, administrative, and fiscal authority. These entities would take on functions currently handled by departments and would have greater leeway to define their own development priorities.
The candidate argues that the constitutional framework already provides for this possibility through administrative and planning regions. Under her proposal, these regions would evolve into fully-fledged territorial entities with full autonomy.
The model would also imply a greater role for municipalities and their mayors. Decisions on investment, infrastructure, and economic development would be made at the local level, with less intervention from the central government.
However, the proposal faces significant legal obstacles. Departments are recognized as territorial entities in the 1991 Constitution, with authorities elected by popular vote. Their elimination would require a far-reaching constitutional reform.
Sondra Macollins is a criminal defense attorney with nearly thirty years of experience, known for her involvement in cases related to extradition and human rights. Her career has developed primarily in the judicial sphere, without having held public office.
Born in Santa Marta, she has worked in both Colombia and the United States and has participated in proceedings before various national and international bodies. Her entry into electoral politics has come through an independent platform.
Her presidential candidacy was formalized in 2026 after collecting signatures through a citizen movement. With this, she positioned herself as a figure outside the traditional parties.
The origin of departments in Colombia
The candidate’s proposal is framed within the debate over the model of territorial organization that, currently, in Colombia, is based on a division into departments. This territorial division dates back to the 19th century, but its current structure was defined by the 1991 Constitution. This charter recognizes them as territorial entities with administrative autonomy and their own powers.
Today, the country has 32 departments, each governed by a governor elected by popular vote. These entities serve as a link between the national government and municipalities.
Their current functions include coordinating public policies, managing resources, and executing projects in key areas such as health, education, and infrastructure. They are also a central component of the decentralization model adopted in recent decades.
Despite this, the system has been questioned for its limitations in terms of fiscal autonomy and the persistence of a high degree of centralization in decision-making. Beyond the immediate feasibility of structural changes, the idea of eliminating departments reopens a historical tension between centralism and regional autonomy that continues to shape Colombia’s political life.