Petro maintains his tax reform despite the new government's request

President Gustavo Petro is moving forward with his tax reform project despite the elected vice president, José Manuel Restrepo, requesting a delay until the new administration. Tension marks the beginning of the transition.

The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, remains steadfast in his intention to present a tax reform on July 20, despite the explicit request from elected vice president, José Manuel Restrepo, for the project to be left to the new government. This was confirmed by outgoing Finance Minister, Germán Ávila, after the first transition meeting held at the Casa de Nariño.

Restrepo requested that a tax reform that compromises public finances be avoided before the incoming administration takes power. However, Ávila was clear: the financing law proposal will be submitted on the scheduled date to ensure the country's fiscal stability.

A transition with 22 working groups

The meeting also served to formalise the establishment of the transition commission, a process that will include 22 working groups for the exchange of information between the outgoing and incoming governments. Ávila anticipated that the first report will be delivered on July 24, using the closing data from June as a reference.

This approach aims to facilitate an orderly and transparent transition. Among the members of the commission are Jerome Sanabria and Elsa Noguera from the new government, while the outgoing side includes Ávila, Natalia Irene Molina, and Nhora Yhanet Mondragón.

Transparency and technical rigor

President Petro expressed his support for having the transition sessions televised, which adds an extra layer of transparency to the process. For his part, Restrepo emphasised that this transition should not be a mere administrative procedure, but a historic responsibility to understand the reality of the Colombian state.

The commitment will be with technical rigor and transparency, paying special attention to any action that puts public assets at risk, Restrepo stated.

The tension between continuity and renewal marks this transition period, which will be crucial for the country's economic and social stability. Meanwhile, markets are closely watching the next steps of the outgoing government.

For investors and analysts, the presentation of the tax reform on July 20 is a key datum. If the schedule is maintained, the new fiscal measures could be in effect before the new government takes office, which would limit its room for manoeuvre. On the other hand, if the reform is postponed, a scenario of uncertainty opens up regarding how the state will be financed in the coming months.

High-level commissions will begin working in the coming days, and the transition process is expected to conclude before the new government takes office. Citizens and economic agents will be attentive to each step, aware that what happens in these weeks will determine the country's direction.