The Historic Pact reaffirms its intention to join the broad front with Iván Cepeda and points out the legal 'obstacles' it has not yet overcome

The Historic Pact reiterated its intention to form a broad front in March 2026 to select a single candidate for the left and center-left in the first round of the presidential election. The group stated that the merger into a single party remains in place, but that there are " legal and political obstacles " to overcome.

In a statement, the political group that brought President Gustavo Petro to power in 2022 affirmed its commitment to achieving unity and becoming a single-party coalition. It expressed gratitude for the 2.7 million votes it received in the October 26 primary, which was won by Senator Iván Cepeda, and clarified that the merger of Colombia Humana , the Democratic Pole, the Patriotic Union (UP), the Communist Party, and the Progressives is ongoing, though not without difficulties within the National Electoral Council (CNE).

"The political committee is making progress in overcoming the legal and political obstacles necessary to guarantee the full legality of the merger process. In this regard, the Democratic Pole, the UP, and the Communist Party are fulfilling the requirements for the prompt issuance of the legal status of the Historical Pact," it reads.

The political group also noted that the party of Senator María José Pizarro , who will be Iván Cepeda's chief of staff and abandoned her legislative aspirations, has already begun the process at the CNE to renounce the legal status of Progresistas and merge with the Pacto.

"The Colombia Humana movement is working to definitively overcome the existing impediments to its full integration into the merger process," the Pact said regarding the condition imposed on it by the CNE for the merger : that the accession be discussed and approved in a meeting of Colombia Humana with at least 76,315 members, a figure that is under discussion.

The statement also indicated that the Historic Pact will seek to form coalitions with other political groups in some regions to forge alliances and gain more strength. The candidate lists will remain closed and gender-balanced to guarantee gender parity.

While these legal obstacles are being resolved, President Petro is hardening his pronouncements with an electoral undertone. After the newspaper 'Cambio' revealed an alleged US plan to capture him and support pro-US leaders , the head of state made a comment that some might interpret as political maneuvering.

" Not only are there elections coming in which I cannot participate , but there is also a defense of the dignity of national sovereignty. When they come here to threaten us, we will rise up by the millions," the president stated, adding that Trump, in addition to his capture, would seek to deploy military forces in Colombian territory with the objective of invading Venezuela to bring down the Chavista regime.

LAURA CATALINA PERALTA GIRALDO