Concerns Over Ministry of Equality’s Spending Before Liquidation
Warning from Daniel Briceño
Daniel Briceño, an elected representative from the Democratic Center in Bogotá, has raised significant concerns regarding the financial activities of the Ministry of Equality ahead of its impending liquidation. In a recent post on his X account, Briceño revealed that the ministry intends to finalize contracts and agreements totaling over 450 billion pesos before its dissolution, urging caution with the phrase, “Be very careful, here you can lose a lot [plata].”
This alert comes in the wake of President Gustavo Petro’s enactment of Decree 0626 on June 19, 2026, which mandates the liquidation of the Ministry of Equality and Equity. The decree follows the Constitutional Court’s ruling that identified procedural flaws in Sentence C-161 of 2024, leading to Law 2281 of 2023 becoming unenforceable.
Financial Breakdown of Contracts
According to the hiring table shared by Briceño, the total registered spending amounts to $469,548,712,431 across 62 processes. The breakdown is alarming:
Awarded Contracts: 38 processes totaling $430,022,819,112.
- This includes 27 agreements amounting to $355,025,622,580.
- Additionally, a closed invitation stands at $45,790,850,883.
Ongoing Processes: 16 totaling $25,668,708,848.
- This includes seven open calls, eight open invitations, and one public invitation.
Failed Declarations and Other Issues: Six processes totaling $10,159,268,850 and several others with discrepancies.
Legislative Context and Criticism
The urgency of Briceño’s warning is underscored by the expiration of Congress’s deadline to pass a corrective law by June 19, 2026, which left the Ministry of Equality without a legal framework to continue operating. Despite government attempts to push for extraordinary sessions, resistance in the legislature led to the abandonment of the proposal.
Criticism surrounding the ministry has intensified, with Senator Carlos Fernando Motoa representing the opposition’s viewpoint that the ministry epitomizes the challenges of Petro’s administration, highlighting issues such as “improvisation, corruption, and failure to meet goals.” Such criticisms have fostered a politically isolating atmosphere, further jeopardizing the future of the Ministry of Equality.
The Future of the Ministry
Initially led by Vice President Francia Márquez, the Ministry of Equality’s operations are now being concluded after a brief three-year stint. Following the formalization of the liquidation on June 23, 2026, discontent among ministry employees led to protests in Bogotá as they were instructed to surrender their duties.
The decree indicates that the liquidation process will span at least one year, with potential extensions, and the ministry’s functions will be reassigned to various state entities, marking a significant shift in the government’s approach to equality and equity issues.
Conclusion
The cautionary remarks by Daniel Briceño highlight the palpable tension and skepticism surrounding the Ministry of Equality’s spending practices just before its dissolution. As the government transitions through this period of liquidation, questions linger about the implications for public trust and the effectiveness of ongoing equality initiatives in Colombia.