Installation of the Congress of Colombia this July 20: Alfredo Deluque, candidate for the presidency of the Senate, spoke about tension with Centro Democrático

Senator Honorio Henríquez, candidate of the Democratic Center to hold the position of president of the Senate, said he hopes the tradition that the majority party leads Congress will be fulfilled.

“I hope that the 103 senators, including my vote, will be for Honorio Henríquez (…) I am a man who provides guarantees to all parties, to the government, to independent and opposition parties,” he told EL TIEMPO.

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The senator from the ‘U’ party, candidate to be president of the Senate, spoke about the contest with the Democratic Center for the position. He assured that the majority of the parties in Congress have expressed their support for his candidacy.
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​”I hope this is just a one-day electoral issue and that later we can agree on the initiatives for which the Colombian people voted last June 21,” he said about the dispute with the Democratic Center.

Lidio García, outgoing president of Congress, told the press that they will seek an agreement until the last minute for the election of the board of directors.

“We know there is a confrontation between Dr. Honorio and Dr. Alfredo Deluque, let’s hope that before the plenary session starts we can agree on one of the two,” he assured.

This time, Congress will have a 60 percent renewal, something unprecedented in recent history. The big question will be what relationship Abelardo De La Espriella will have with the Legislature after the discussion that has arisen with the Democratic Center over the presidency of the Senate.

Read the full analysis here: A new era begins in Congress with over 60% renewal: what awaits Abelardo De La Espriella’s government in the Legislature?

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In the Chamber, the outlook is clear. The official majorities have already agreed for Nicolás Barguil, from the Conservative Party, to preside over the corporation.

The full Congress is summoned for 3 in the afternoon, but the event is expected to start an hour later, as usual. President Gustavo Petro will give the installation speech of Congress and afterwards, the opposition’s reply speech will proceed.
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After this, the sessions will be installed and each corporation will begin the election of their boards of directors.

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