The Colombian politician Enrique Gómez proposed a formula to organize the electoral panorama for the 2026 presidential elections. The proposal was presented in an opinion column published in Week Magazinewhere he insisted that the opposition needs an immediate definition that avoids fragmentation and allows it to concentrate forces on a single candidate.
In that space he argued that, given the multiplicity of pre-candidacies, political times and calendar pressure would lead to seeking a practical solution that, according to him, could be resolved with a quick and verifiable mechanism.
You can now follow us on Facebook and in our WhatsApp Channel
Gómez indicated that the growing number of candidates within the anti-Petrist spectrum makes it difficult to consolidate a competitive bloc.
For this reason he proposed a broad, representative survey carried out in the first five days of Decemberthe results of which would be revealed immediately. In his column he explained that this exercise would allow those who do not complete the voting intention to have the opportunity to opt for other aspirations, such as lists for Congress before the close of December 8.
For him, this departure would constitute an effective way to prevent multiple pre-candidates from remaining in the race without real possibilities.
In his approach he stressed that the participants should commit to supporting the winner, guaranteeing full unification. According to Gómez, this condition would be essential to show coherence to citizens and avoid fissures within the opposition sector. He also reiterated that the proposal includes that each applicant assumes the cost of the exercise pro ratawhich, in his opinion, would make the participation of all interested parties viable without disproportionate burdens.
From their perspective, the survey would offer additional advantages. One of them, displayed in the column of Week Magazineis that pre-candidates who have invested resources in collecting signatures would avoid the risk of them not being endorsed and, at the same time, the technical burden for the Registry would be reduced. He also highlighted that those who have worked to consolidate recognition could capitalize on that effort in other scenarios, such as candidates for Congress or future territorial contests. In Gómez’s opinion, this alternative would prevent the opposition sector from advancing dispersed and would facilitate the construction of a solid option to face the presidential race.
Gómez also stated that the survey would prevent Petrism from reaching the first round with an advantage. For him, defining an opposition candidate early avoids a scenario in which the division facilitates the advancement of the candidate backed by the Government. In his column he stated that a late definition could replicate situations that occurred in other countries in the region, where – according to his analysis – the dispersion contributed to the triumph of left-wing options.
Furthermore, the politician recalled that the country has already experienced several months of pre-campaign and that, in that time, the candidates have had ample opportunities to present themselves to public opinion through debates, forums and presence in the media. He explained that the territorial tours and digital campaigns have made it possible to sufficiently measure the reach of each candidate. Along these lines, he maintained that current levels of voting intention would be a reasonable reflection of what could happen at the polls, so a survey in December would not be premature.
Gómez also questioned the arguments of those who consider that they could achieve a significant promotion in the first months of 2026. He pointed out that, in his opinion, the dynamics of social networks and the current political environment reduce the probability of a late takeoff. He added that, although in past elections some candidates managed to grow in the final stretch, the relevance of digital media and changes in political communication make a similar phenomenon less feasible.
In this context, he invited opposition candidates to consider that citizens expect clear signs of unity. In his column he assured that there is a broad desire for concreteness and that the prolongation of the current scenario only increases uncertainty within the electorate. That is why he insisted that the big survey It would be an alternative to materialize that expectation and allow the opposition to face the 2026 elections united. According to Gómez, it is time to put aside particular interests and prioritize a collective decision that responds to the country’s political environment.
