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Colombia Cuts Congressional Pay by 30% for Next Legislature After Petro Decree

The decree abolishes a 2013 special allowance that officials say inflated pay beyond the country’s economic reality.

Overview

  • The cut stems from Decree 0030 of 2026, which eliminates the monthly ‘prima especial’ worth about 16 million pesos (around US$3,670).
  • The change applies only to lawmakers elected in the March 8 vote and takes fiscal effect when the new Congress is sworn in on July 20, 2026.
  • After the allowance is removed, legislators’ monthly income is expected to be about US$9,449, according to figures cited by news outlets.
  • President Gustavo Petro hailed the move as an austerity and social‑justice step, saying lawmakers’ pay had become disproportionate.
  • Senate president Lidio García condemned the decision as a political punishment, while government allies and anti‑corruption advocates praised it following years of failed reform attempts.