On Wednesday, September 3, the Senate elected Carlos Camargo Assis as the new Constitutional Court judge. The lawyer prevailed over María Patricia Balanta and Jaime Humberto Tobar thanks to the support of various sectors that opposed Gustavo Petro's government. Camargo won with 62 votes over Balanta, who had 41.
Camargo ultimately won the battle against Balanta, who was known to be supported by the Casa de Nariño, despite having denied representing it at all times.
“I am not a Petrista. I am not part of the government, and I have not made alliances with any political party,” he stated hours before the election.
Balanta had the support of the government and several groups that had reached agreements with the Minister of the Interior, Armando Benedetti, including some senators from the U Party, the Liberal Party, and the Conservative Party.Meanwhile, Camargo was supported by opposition sectors and other groups.
Camargo is a former public defender. He holds a PhD and Master's degree in Law, specializing in Administrative Law from Sergio Arboleda University, and has studies in Human Rights and International Law from American University.
In addition to serving as the Ombudsman, Camargo was executive director of the National Federation of Departments.
The election of the new magistrate had been fraught with political disputes. President Gustavo Petro had intervened in the bidding."The election of the new magistrate will define the entire framework of alliances in the Congress of the Republic. We cannot give in to those who have supported fascism," he stated.
Former Vice President Germán Vargas Lleras, leader of Cambio Radical, also joined the discussion to demand that the government not impose Balanta.
"And, as I've been warning, Petro has taken off his mask and openly stated that nothing matters to him other than winning the majority in the Constitutional Court. If this happens, we'll be under this yoke for at least the next six years," Vargas Lleras said.
Furthermore, this election threatened to break up the coalitions that were being formed on the right and center-right for the 2026 elections, since Vargas Lleras, as leader of Cambio Radical, assured that he would not be able to form alliances with parties that were supporting the government.
"I will not be part of any alliance or coalition with those who have so enthusiastically supported the passage of laws that have caused so much harm to the country and have guaranteed Petro's so-called governability," Vargas Lleras stated.
