Gabriel Antonio Goyeneche holds the record for the most presidential aspirations in Colombian history, having repeatedly registered his name throughout much of the 20th century. His political approach, distributing pamphlets in the streets, and the audacity of his proposals (such as paving the River Magdalena) position him as a precursor to the disruptive narratives that some candidates are now adopting in the race for the Colombian presidency in 2026.
Issues such as the environment, infrastructure projects, and the fight against poverty left a trail of originality that the candidate from Boyaca cultivated in response to the politics of his time.
Fight against climate change
Goyeneche proposed installing a glass canopy over the city of Bogota to protect its inhabitants from the cold and rain. The politician argued that this transparent structure would allow sunlight to pass through while blocking direct rainfall from the city center, thus ensuring residents’ productivity without weather-related disruptions. This measure would eliminate the need for umbrellas or rain gear.
As a complement to this initiative, he proposed systematically bombarding clouds with heavy artillery to divert storms before they reached the city. This direct atmospheric intervention would prevent natural disasters in populated areas.
Infrastructure projects
Goyeneche proposed paving the Magdalena River to facilitate vehicular traffic. The politician contended that river navigation is an obsolete mode of transport, proposing instead that the riverbed be repurposed as the foundation for a highway corridor. His method: Pouring sand and cement directly onto the water to transform the riverbed into a roadway. This initiative aimed to connect the interior of the country with the northern ports via a fast route.
To connect Bogota with the Colombian coast, he proposed building exclusively downhill roads to eliminate fuel consumption by motor vehicles. Vehicles could use inertia to reach their destinations instead of mechanical traction.
Eliminating poverty by city blocks
The poverty eradication plan would redistribute wealth daily, block by block, through direct community action. The system would select one impoverished resident per block each day to receive financial contributions from their neighbors.
The other residents of the block would be required to give one peso (of the currency at the time) to the selected individual to help meet their needs. Goyeneche asserted that the constant rotation of this benefit would, over time, make all citizens wealthy.
To combat national child malnutrition, Goyeneche proposed converting municipal aqueducts into milk distribution networks.
Export revenue
Goyeneche proposed transforming traditional chicha (a fermented drink made out of corn) into an export-quality champagne for European markets. Refining the corn beverage would increase its value compared to foreign liquors. The politician incorporated these measures as the central focus of his numerous campaigns, presenting his ideas as the definitive solution to the country’s economic problems.
The Colombian think tank
In addition to the aforementioned solutions, Goyeneche included over 4,000 proposals to address public policy, economic, and social issues. His torrent of ideas included radical measures such as colonizing the Choco region with public employees so they would “know what is good.” He also suggested pouring anise into the rivers so people could drink aguardiente for free.
In his quest for a national paper industry, he recommended using old clothes instead of wood pulp or sugarcane bagasse. Finally, he proposed a portable toilet without pipes that used an “internal crematorium oven that turns the feces into shit.”
Trajectory in the electoral system
The National Civil Registry documented citizen support for Goyeneche in four official elections between 1962 and 1974. The candidate received his highest number of votes in 1970 with a total of 3,506. He also registered 2,652 votes in 1966 and 39 votes in 1962, concluding his record in 1974 with the support of 33 citizens. That was his last electoral campaign because, as he said, he had been crucified “at the age of Christ.”
The man behind the myth
Goyeneche was born in Socha, Boyaca, in 1886 and spent much of his adult life in Bogota. He frequently spent his days at the National University, where he interacted with students and shared his political views. He personally disseminated his platform by selling pamphlets to passersby for five cents each.
After being hit by a taxi, the politician died from his injuries and extreme malnutrition at the San Juan de Dios Hospital in the capital on Feb. 25, 1978. As a reference point for nontraditional governance, his legacy consists of colorful anecdotes that continue to echo through the campaign promises of contemporary candidates.