Bogotá – Colombia’s Congress has elected the nine magistrates who will form the new National Electoral Council of Colombia (CNE). The decision followed weeks of negotiations among political parties and several last-minute changes before the final vote.

The new council includes representatives linked to several major political forces. These include the Liberal Party, Conservative Party, Pacto Histórico, Centro Democrático, Partido de la U, MIRA, Salvación Nacional and Cambio Radical.

The magistrates are expected to take office on September 1, 2026. Their term will place them at the center of important decisions involving political parties and Colombia’s electoral system.

Nine Magistrates Elected to Colombia’s CNE

Congress selected nine officials to serve on the electoral authority.

The new magistrates are Silvio Carrasquilla, Juan Carlos Wills, Cielo Rusinque, Ana Jimena Bautista, José Antonio Parra, Juan Felipe Lemos, Nubia Stella Martínez, Plinio Alarcón and Gersel Luis Pérez.

Carrasquilla represents the Liberal Party, while Wills comes from the Conservative Party.

Meanwhile, Rusinque and Bautista were backed by Pacto Histórico. Lemos represents Partido de la U, Martínez comes from Centro Democrático and Alarcón represents MIRA.

Parra secured a place for Salvación Nacional. Finally, Pérez obtained a seat with Cambio Radical.

Political Negotiations Shaped the Final Vote

The composition of the National Electoral Council of Colombia was not settled easily.

Initially, 27 candidates had been nominated by different political groups. However, only around 10 remained competitive as the decisive congressional session approached.

Several parties then worked to create a joint list.

Juan Carlos Wills, Juan Felipe Lemos, Silvio Carrasquilla and Nubia Stella Martínez were among the first candidates included in the main agreement. Later, Plinio Alarcón and José Antonio Parra joined that group.

The negotiations continued until shortly before the vote.

Cambio Radical Secures a Last-Minute Seat

One of the biggest developments involved Cambio Radical.

The party appeared likely to lose representation under an earlier agreement. However, Gersel Luis Pérez gathered support from other political sectors during the congressional vote.

As a result, Pérez secured enough backing to enter the CNE. His election changed the balance that negotiators had previously expected.

Therefore, the final composition differed from the political arrangement discussed earlier in the day.

The result illustrates how fluid the negotiations remained until the final stage.

Pacto Histórico Gets Two Seats

Pacto Histórico secured two direct seats through Cielo Rusinque and Ana Jimena Bautista.

Their nominations had the backing of former President Gustavo Petro. However, the selection also followed internal discussions within the political movement.

Rusinque previously held several senior government positions. She served as director of Social Prosperity and superintendent of Industry and Commerce. She also served temporarily as justice minister.

Bautista, meanwhile, previously worked at Colombia’s National Land Agency.

New CNE Faces Major Political Decisions

The new council will quickly inherit several sensitive cases.

Among them are decisions concerning the legal status of political movements. The CNE must also address internal disputes and possible divisions involving established parties.

In addition, the authority plays an important role in supervising political organizations and electoral procedures.

Therefore, its decisions can have significant consequences for Colombia’s political landscape.

The council will also deal with issues surrounding the regulation and oversight of opinion polls. That subject has already generated considerable political debate in the country.

New Electoral Council Begins on September 1

The nine magistrates are scheduled to begin their duties on September 1.

Their arrival marks the beginning of a new period for Colombia’s electoral authority. However, the negotiations behind their election also demonstrate the influence of congressional alliances on the council’s composition.

The new National Electoral Council of Colombia will now face the challenge of handling politically sensitive cases while maintaining confidence in the country’s electoral institutions.