Three coalitions testing ground to determine which candidate would lead
En un domingo de marzo de 2022, Colombia convocó a sus ciudadanos a un ejercicio democrático de múltiples capas: elegir el Congreso que escribirá sus leyes y, al mismo tiempo, decidir qué candidatos presidenciales llevarían las banderas de sus coaliciones hacia mayo. Fue un día en que el presente legislativo y el futuro ejecutivo se jugaron en una sola jornada, en un país que lleva décadas buscando la forma de traducir su diversidad política en gobernabilidad.
- Colombia enfrentó una jornada electoral de inusual complejidad: un mismo día concentró elecciones al Congreso, consultas presidenciales y votaciones especiales para comunidades marcadas por el conflicto.
- En 167 municipios rurales, los ciudadanos recibieron una papeleta adicional para elegir representantes a las Circunscripciones Especiales de Paz, un mecanismo diseñado para dar voz a territorios históricamente marginados.
- Tres coaliciones —Equipo por Colombia, Centro Esperanza y Pacto Histórico— midieron fuerzas en consultas internas voluntarias para definir quién las representaría en la carrera presidencial del 29 de mayo.
- Desde las 4:00 p.m., la Registraduría comenzó a revelar resultados que reconfigurarían el mapa del poder legislativo y señalarían qué candidatos llegaban con impulso a la recta final presidencial.
- El país observó con atención inusual: lo que se decidía ese día no era solo quién ocuparía una curul, sino quién tendría la autoridad de gobernar Colombia durante los próximos cuatro años.
El 13 de marzo de 2022, Colombia vivió una jornada electoral que fue, en realidad, varias elecciones superpuestas. Los ciudadanos votaron para llenar 107 escaños en el Senado y 186 en la Cámara de Representantes, los cuerpos encargados de legislar para el país. Cada votante tenía dos votos para el Congreso: uno para un senador de representación nacional y otro para un representante de su departamento, distrito o comunidad étnica.
Pero la jornada iba más allá del Congreso. En 167 municipios rurales, una papeleta especial permitió elegir representantes a las 16 Circunscripciones Transitorias Especiales de Paz —las Citrep—, asientos creados para que comunidades forjadas por el conflicto y los procesos de reconciliación tuvieran voz propia en la legislatura.
Paralelamente, tres coaliciones políticas —Equipo por Colombia, Centro Esperanza y Pacto Histórico— celebraron consultas internas voluntarias para definir a sus candidatos presidenciales. Los ganadores de esas primarias se enfrentarían el 29 de mayo, cuando Colombia elegiría al sucesor de Iván Duque. No todos los aspirantes presidenciales optaron por someterse a ese proceso.
A partir de las cuatro de la tarde, la Registraduría comenzó a publicar los resultados, que irían revelando tanto la nueva composición del Congreso como el estado de ánimo de las bases políticas de cada coalición. En un solo día, los colombianos determinaron quiénes escribirían sus leyes y quiénes competirían por dirigir el país, convirtiendo esa jornada en uno de los momentos electorales más densos y decisivos de la historia reciente del país.
On Sunday, March 13, 2022, Colombia held one of the most consequential electoral days in its modern history. Voters across the country cast ballots to fill 107 seats in the Senate and 186 seats in the Chamber of Representatives—the two chambers that write the nation's laws. But this was not a simple legislative election. Woven into the same voting day were three separate primary contests, each one a coalition testing ground to determine which candidate would represent their political bloc in the presidential runoff scheduled for May 29, when the country would choose a successor to outgoing president Iván Duque.
The scale of the undertaking was substantial. Every Colombian voter had the power to cast two votes for Congress: one for a senator who would represent the nation at large, and one for a representative from their home department, district, or ethnic community. The ballots themselves carried weight—in 167 rural municipalities scattered across the country, voters received an additional special ballot to elect representatives to the 16 Temporary Special Peace Constituencies, known by their Spanish acronym Citrep. These seats existed to give voice to communities in regions that had been shaped by conflict and peace-building efforts.
The three coalitions competing in the primary contests represented distinct political visions. Equipo por Colombia, Centro Esperanza, and Pacto Histórico each fielded their own presidential aspirants, and the primary votes would determine which of those candidates would advance to face each other on May 29. Unlike the legislative elections, which were mandatory, participation in these primary consultations was voluntary. Not every presidential candidate even chose to participate in the primary process at all.
Beginning at 4:00 p.m. on election day, the Registraduría—Colombia's electoral authority—began releasing results. The numbers would flow in throughout the evening, revealing not only which parties and coalitions had gained ground in Congress, but also which presidential candidates had captured the most enthusiasm from their respective party bases. The results would reshape the composition of the legislature and signal the political momentum heading into the final sprint toward the presidential decision in May.
For many Colombians, the election represented a moment of genuine democratic choice at a scale that had generated unusual levels of public attention. The convergence of legislative elections, primary contests, and the looming presidential race meant that a single day of voting would determine multiple layers of political power—who would write laws, and who would lead the country for the next four years.
Notable Quotes
Each Colombian could vote for two parliamentarians: one for the Senate and one for the Chamber of Representatives from their region— Electoral process description
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why did Colombia hold all three elections on the same day? Wouldn't that confuse voters?
It's actually efficient. You're voting for Congress anyway, so adding the primary contests to the same ballot reduces costs and maximizes turnout. People show up once.
And the special peace constituencies—why those 16 districts in rural areas?
They're a legacy of the peace agreement. Those regions experienced the worst of the conflict, so the system guarantees them direct representation in Congress, separate from the normal district system.
So a voter in one of those 167 municipalities gets three ballots?
Exactly. One for Senate, one for their local representative, and one for the peace constituency. It's complex, but it reflects Colombia's attempt to give voice to communities that were historically marginalized.
And the primary votes—those were just for the coalitions' own members?
Right. Only people who wanted to participate in the primary process voted in those contests. It was voluntary, which is unusual. You could skip it entirely and just vote for Congress.
What made this election so historically significant?
The sheer number of voters, the stakes involved, and the fact that three distinct political coalitions were all competing at once. It wasn't just about filling seats—it was about determining the direction of the country for the next four years.