Controversy over a billboard criticizing the number of candidates running for the 2026 presidential election

The 2026 presidential elections are still a long way off, but the political debate is already taking on a new dimension after a billboard installed in Bogotá sparked controversy on social media and in the public eye this week by describing the existence of more than 100 candidates for the Casa de Nariño as "ridiculous."

The piece, signed by the citizen movement Mejor Juntos, seeks to generate reflection on political fragmentation and the need to build consensus in the face of the upcoming electoral process, and was circulated on social media through what appears to be the organization's official account.

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“We are the citizen initiative that unites ideas, voices, and leadership. The future is not built alone: ​​it is built #BetterTogether. This is not a time for division; it is everyone's time. It is Colombia's time. Shall we join in?” they say in a message from X

Although internet users have reacted sparsely so far, the billboard's message is direct and questions the proliferation of presidential candidates, warning that fragmentation can weaken democracy. The phrase "More than 100 presidential candidates? It's ridiculous" was interpreted as a call to rethink the current political landscape.

A citizen movement under construction

Portafolio undertook the task of consulting about this movement, and according to sources close to the group, Mejor Juntos does not seek to promote a specific candidate, but rather to position itself as a citizen platform focused on putting the country at the center of the conversation and inviting different sectors to build bridges instead of walls, reducing the polarization that has marked the national debate in recent years.

In this sense, they propose that thousands of citizens unite around the defense of democracy and a national consensus that will allow us to face the challenges that Colombia is facing; while making it clear that the proposal arises at a time that they consider decisive for the country and in which the

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It's worth noting that the communication strategy chosen by Mejor Juntos is no coincidence, considering that outdoor advertising is a vehicle for attracting mass attention and sparking discussion. In this case, it succeeded, as it quickly became a trend on social media, generating both positive and negative reactions.

According to this group, the message, although brief, seeks to establish a concrete idea : that the country cannot afford to face the 2026 elections with more than 100 candidates without a serious effort to build consensus. Otherwise, the risk is deepening fragmentation and hindering governance in a context of high uncertainty.

Beyond the immediate reactions triggered by the fence, what remains at the heart of the debate is the viability of a proposal for unity, considering that at a time when Colombian politics is going through one of its most fragmented stages, with dispersed leaderships and no consolidated parties, the possibility of a citizen movement that promotes national agreements becomes a key issue.

That's why, amid the debate, the movement insists that this is not a time for division, but rather for finding common ground. The Better Together narrative seeks to transcend personalities and champion a vision for the country that transcends immediate electoral calculations.

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However, the debate is just beginning, and movements like the fence movement are demanding that the discussion on the viability of holding presidential elections with more than a hundred candidates be put on the public agenda and that conversations be opened about the need for consensus, otherwise Colombia risks repeating a cycle of fragmentation that will further weaken its democracy. DANIEL HERNÁNDEZ NARANJO

Portfolio Journalist