President-elect Abelardo de la Espriña proposes Barranquilla as alternate capital

President-elect Abelardo de la Espriña has proposed a constitutional reform to recognize Barranquilla as an alternate capital of Colombia [1, 2].

This proposal represents a significant shift in the country's administrative structure. By elevating the status of the coastal city, the administration aims to challenge the traditional centralization of power in Bogotá and stimulate economic growth in the Caribbean region.

De la Espriña said the plan following his election in June 2026 ^[2]. He intends to introduce a legislative act to formally establish the city's new status. The move is designed to strengthen decentralization, and foster regional development across the nation [1, 2].

Barranquilla serves as a primary hub for trade and logistics due to its strategic port location. Proponents of the plan said that designating it as an alternate capital would streamline government operations and bring federal resources closer to the coast [1, 2].

While the specific details of the legislative act have not been fully released, the proposal requires a constitutional amendment. This process will involve negotiations within the Colombian Congress to determine the exact powers and functions the alternate capital would hold compared to the primary capital ^[2].

The initiative follows a pattern of regional advocacy in Colombia, where various departments have long sought more autonomy from the central government. By targeting a constitutional change, the president-elect is attempting to institutionalize a more distributed model of governance ^[1].