The proposal to convene a National Constituent Assembly has ceased to be a priority in the ruling coalition’s discourse, which, with Ivan Cepeda, seeks to retain power in Colombia after the elections. The left-wing presidential candidate, Ivan Cepeda, put some distance between himself and that initiative of President Gustavo Petro and sent a clear signal of moderation in the middle of the electoral campaign.
His statements contrast with Petro’s position, as he has insisted for years on the need for a constituent assembly as a response to Congress blocking his social reforms. The nuance introduces a key difference within the same political project and reopens the debate over the direction of “Petrismo.”
Cepeda disagrees with Petro: constituent assembly not a priority for Colombia
Ivan Cepeda’s statement introduced, if not a shift, then at least an important nuance in the ruling coalition’s narrative. The candidate said there is no prohibition on convening a national constituent assembly, but made it clear that it is not a priority within his agenda.
With this clarification, Cepeda does not rule out the mechanism, but removes it from the center of the political debate, where it has been for just over two years. Instead of insisting on an immediate constitutional transformation, he proposes the need to move forward through more viable paths within the current institutional framework.
“What the agreement says is that we defend the Constitution and that we are on the path of seeing what happens in the country,” the candidate told the media. With that phrase, the left-wing candidate made it clear that within the progressive coalition that supports him, the priority lies within the current institutional framework, without taking on a potential citizen-led call to reform the constitution, at least not immediately.
Cepeda added a clarification about the scope of the initiative within his program: “There is no prohibition, but it will not be the priority at this moment. … The priority is the national agreement, and it says so clearly.”
The message appears designed to lower the tension the issue has generated across different sectors. The idea of a constituent assembly has sparked resistance in the opposition, in part of the political center, and even among some government allies, who see the proposal as a risk to institutional stability.
Cepeda opts for a more pragmatic tone. He acknowledges the mechanism, but avoids turning it into a campaign banner. His approach points toward building majorities and seeking agreements that allow progress on reforms without resorting to a large-scale constitutional change.
Without a majority in Congress
To all this must be added the fact that, after the legislative elections of March 8, despite the good results obtained by the political force that supports both the Petro government and Ivan Cepeda’s candidacy — the Historic Pact — there is no majority in favor of approving the start of a national constituent assembly.
Without the support of Congress, this path appears closed, just as it was before the renewal of the two chambers — Senate and House of Representatives — that make up Congress during Petro’s administration.
In this way, in addition to a nod to the forces that support his candidacy but do not clearly back the path toward constitutional reform, Cepeda shows a difference with one of the most repeated messages from the current government of President Petro, who has framed the constituent assembly as a way out of what he considers systematic congressional blockages to his initiatives, especially in key areas such as health, pensions, and labor.
For Petro, the constituent assembly represents a legitimate path to push structural changes. However, his insistence has generated strong criticism from the opposition, which interprets the proposal as a threat to the balance of powers and the current institutional order.
In that context, Cepeda’s position introduces a relevant difference within the ruling coalition. Although the candidate maintains support for the government’s reforms, he also appears to distance himself from one of its most controversial proposals, especially as he seeks to gain supporters for his candidacy in the elections.
A debate that remains open within Colombian progressivism
Cepeda’s statements seek immediate effects in the campaign and project an image of stability and governability, in contrast with the fears raised by the idea of a deep constitutional reform.
At the same time, the nuance reshapes the debate within the ruling coalition. Without breaking with the president, Cepeda introduces a difference in emphasis that could shape the course of the campaign in the coming months.
The strategy appears aimed at broadening the electoral base. By moderating his discourse, the candidate tries to attract sectors that support social reforms but are wary of far-reaching constitutional changes.
Ultimately, the statement seeks a complex balance between maintaining the identity of the political project and, at the same time, expanding its reach, which requires adjustments in both discourse and priorities. In this case, the constituent assembly ceases to be a central axis and becomes a secondary possibility.
Despite the shift in tone, the discussion about a potential constituent assembly does not disappear. The mechanism remains part of the political debate and an option contemplated within Colombia’s legal framework.
However, Cepeda’s words mark a change in timing. The priority, according to his approach, is to build majorities, reach agreements, and advance reforms within the current rules of the political system.
The contrast with Petro highlights an internal tension, but also a possible evolution of the ruling coalition’s discourse. In a campaign marked by polarization, an emphasis on governability and moderation could become a decisive factor.
The question that remains open now is not whether that shift will be enough to sustain the unity of the ruling coalition, but whether it will serve its main objective: to win new support in a political scenario seeking a difficult first-round victory.