The Colombian Congress on Thursday called for moderating the tone of political debate following several recent clashes between senators who are also presidential pre-candidates, such as pro-government lawmaker Ivan Cepeda and opposition conservative congresswoman Paloma Valencia.
The warning comes after sessions marked by mutual accusations and a climate of growing confrontation that has diverted discussion away from substantive legislative issues, between two of the most likely candidates for the upcoming presidential elections.
The most visible episode of this tension occurred last week, with interventions that reflected not only their ideological differences, but also the anticipated tone of an electoral campaign that is already beginning to be felt within the chamber.
Their exchanges raised alarms about the risk of Congress becoming a stage for permanent electoral dispute. In this context, the president of the Senate, the liberal Lidio Garcia, called for discussions to focus on ideas rather than personal attacks.
Colombian Congress urges “calm debate” after Cepeda-Valencia clashes
From different sectors of the Colombian Congress, a common message emerged: the need to restore calm and ensure debates centered on arguments. The leadership board and several lawmakers insisted that political differences must be handled without personal disqualifications, at a time when the country faces key economic and social discussions.
The call follows the tension experienced last week, with interventions by two of the main presidential candidates who have not resigned their status as senators in the final stretch of this Congress, which ends in July.
Thus, in recent sessions the tone clearly escalated when Cepeda sharply questioned opposition positions, while Valencia responded with direct criticism of the government.
“I am proud, as president of Congress, to have two very strong presidential candidates. What we have done is call for a calm debate, a debate with very few offenses. Handling it subtly is almost impossible, but let the debate return, let ideological confrontations return and not personal ones. Both of them will have open microphones so the country can hear them and make decisions,” said Lidio Garcia, president of the Senate.
Cepeda and Valencia take their presidential campaigns to the Senate
Amid those interventions, both accused each other of distorting facts and of representing political projects that, according to each of them, put the country at risk. In this regard, during last week’s session, the senator from the ruling Historic Pact defended the government’s agenda and questioned what he considers a narrative of fear promoted by right-wing sectors.
In response, Senator Valencia, from the right-wing Democratic Center, criticized the government of President Gustavo Petro—who belongs to the same party as Cepeda—whom she said would be campaigning—something prohibited by electoral law—and using public resources, following reports of increased contracting in recent weeks.
Valencia also denounced, in a raised tone, Cepeda’s refusal to participate in debates against his opponents in the electoral race for the presidency.
Although heated exchanges are not new in Congress, several lawmakers believe the level of confrontation has escalated in recent weeks. The proximity of the electoral calendar appears to have brought campaign logic into the legislative debate, where each intervention is also beginning to be read as political positioning.
In fact, in that same session, a debate was held regarding Senator Aida Quilcue, Ivan Cepeda’s vice-presidential running mate, who was questioned by controversial opposition Senator J.P. Hernandez for, as he said, “being poorly prepared” for the position.
The comment triggered anger from the Indigenous senator and escalated into an exchange of messages in which Maria Jose Pizarro and other lawmakers intervened, becoming embroiled in a heated debate.
¿Será que Jota Pe Hernández es capaz de ir a los territorios para conocer la realidad y dejar de decir tantas mentiras desde la comodidad?
Nuestra candidata vicepresidencial, @aida_quilcue, impecable en su respuesta frente a quienes buscan solo show con calumnias.
¡Así se… pic.twitter.com/UroO3YfEjV
— María José Pizarro Rodríguez (@PizarroMariaJo) March 18, 2026