President Gustavo Petro has removed a long-standing 'special services' bonus for legislators, cutting monthly congressional pay by about 30% from roughly $13,000 to $9,400. The decree is presented as an austerity step amid a budget squeeze and will take effect in July after legislative elections in March and a presidential vote in May. Reactions are split: some hail it as a modest move toward equity, while opponents accuse the government of political retaliation as it seeks new revenue and greater fiscal flexibility.
Colombia Cuts Lawmakers' Pay By About 30% As Public Spending Surges Ahead Of Elections
Colombian President Gustavo Petro looks on during a swearing-in ceremony for new military commanders at the army academy in Bogota, Colombia, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Esteban Vega)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Colombia's president on Tuesday ordered roughly a 30% reduction in the pay of members of Congress, a move framed as an austerity measure as the country confronts a budget shortfall ahead of a busy election calendar.
The decree eliminates a long-standing 'bonus for special services' that was originally introduced to help cover relocation and related expenses for legislators. That change reduces monthly congressional pay from about $13,000 to approximately $9,400 — still many times higher than the country's minimum wage, which is roughly $400–$500 per month for most workers.
Why the Government Acted
The administration said the decision responds to an urgent fiscal reality. The decree states lawmaker pay had become 'disproportionate in relation to the average income of the population and the country’s economic reality' and that 'austerity measures are necessary to the extent that they don’t affect the fundamental rights of citizens.' The cut will take effect in July, after a new Congress is seated following legislative elections in March and a presidential vote in May.
Political Reactions
Reactions were mixed. Some lawmakers welcomed the move as a modest step toward equity: Senator Angélica Lozano praised the change on X as 'a minimal measure of equity.' Others criticized the timing and motive. Lidio García, president of Colombia's Senate, accused President Gustavo Petro of trying to 'punish' legislators who opposed his reforms and noted that Mr. Petro had received the same bonus during his long tenure as a congressman.
Wider Fiscal Context
The pay cut comes as the government seeks additional revenue and fiscal flexibility. Officials say they aim to raise about $4 billion this year to cover payments to health insurers, sustain fuel subsidies and invest roughly $700 million in infrastructure to help the military counter drone attacks from rebel groups. The administration also issued an economic emergency decree that permits raising some taxes without immediate congressional approval.
Public spending has expanded under President Petro to levels that, officials say, exceed those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The national government's budget was reported at around $134 billion in 2025.
Bottom line: The pay reduction is a symbolic and practical step to trim government payouts amid broader fiscal pressures and ahead of high-stakes elections, but it has prompted accusations of political maneuvering as well as praise for increased fairness.
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