Keys to understanding Petro’s “fast track” on the Peace Agreement

The current proposal would therefore have to be justified and debated at length in Congress.

The constitutional lawyer Juan Manuel Charry The Commission has expressed significant reservations regarding the feasibility and current need for a fast track procedure. It stresses that, in order to justify this exceptional procedure, it is essential to know in detail the content of the proposed National Agreement, as well as its urgency and public acceptance. So far, the first reactions have been mostly negative, arguing that simplifying the legislative process for something unknown could lack foundation and legitimacy.

Background of the “fast track” in Colombia

The most relevant precedent of the use of “fast track” in Colombia dates back to the Government of Juan Manuel Santos, who used it to expedite the legislative implementation of the Peace Agreements with the FARC.

This mechanism was approved by Legislative Act 01 of 2016, which introduced transitional provisions that facilitated the rapid adoption of the standards necessary for peace.

During that period, the “fast track” It allowed bills related to the Peace Accords to be processed more efficiently, reducing the number of debates required and streamlining procedures in legislative committees.

Thus, Gustavo Petro’s proposal to implement a “fast track” for the Peace Agreement faces significant challenges in terms of its constitutional legitimacy and political acceptance.

Although there is a precedent for the successful use of this mechanism in the recent past, its application in the current context requires careful debate and a clear justification on the urgency and relevance of accelerating the legislative process.

The path towards the adoption of this instrument will be crucial in determining how Colombia addresses the outstanding commitments arising from its peace process.