Who are the new presidents of the Senate and House of Representatives?

The senator Efrain Cepeda Sarabia, from the Conservative Party, was elected this Saturday as the new president of the Colombian Senate, while the presidency of the House of Representatives was left in the hands of Jaime Salamanca, a candidate supported by President Gustavo Petro.

Cepeda, who is also president of the Conservative Party, has been a strong critic of Petro, and received 97 votes from the different parties that have seats in Congress, the Senate reported on the social network X.

“I want to thank the trust that this corporation has placed in me, giving me this responsibility at a time “which I consider decisive for national life”Cepeda said on social media.

When Petro began his government two years ago, he had, among others, the Conservative party in power and he remained like that for several months until, as a result of political difficulties, This group, together with the U Party, became independent.

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Senator Cepeda was a key player in that party decision by leading criticism of the current administration, especially with some of the reforms proposed by the Historic Pact, the Government coalition.

This is the second time that Cepeda presides over the Senate, having done so in the 2017-2018 legislature.