President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella met with the leaders of Colombia's three highest courts to discuss the upcoming government transition [1].
The meeting represents an effort to stabilize relations between the executive branch and the judiciary. This comes after a period of significant tension between the high courts and the outgoing administration of Gustavo Petro [1, 5].
The gathering took place at the Palacio de Justicia in Bogotá [1, 3, 4]. The president-elect met with the presidents of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of Justice, and the Council of State [1, 2].
Reports on the exact timing of the meeting vary. Some sources state the meeting occurred on June 24, 2026 [3], while others indicate it took place on June 25, 2026 [4]. The nature of the event is also contested, with some describing it as an informal encounter [3] and others characterizing it as the first official meeting following the delivery of the president-elect's credentials [4, 5].
Mauricio Lenis, president of the Supreme Court, spoke regarding the expectations for the new administration's approach to the legal system. "I would hope with this new Government that there be a harmonic, institutional dialogue, because it is..." Lenis said [1].
De la Espriella used the meeting to build bridges with the judicial branch [1, 5]. The transition process aims to establish a functional working relationship between the new presidency and the three courts [1].
“"I would hope with this new Government that there be a harmonic, institutional dialogue"”
The meeting signals a strategic pivot by the incoming administration to reduce the judicial friction that characterized the Petro presidency. By engaging the three highest courts early in the transition, De la Espriella is attempting to secure institutional legitimacy and avoid the legal stalemates that often hinder the implementation of executive policy in Colombia.
