Colombian President Gustavo Petro Questions 2.1 Trillion-Peso 2026 Election Contract Amid Passport and Polling Law Controversies

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has raised concerns about the transparency of the upcoming 2026 legislative and presidential elections by questioning the credibility of Thomas Greg & Sons, the company responsible for electoral logistics for nearly 25 years. The National Registry awarded a contract worth 2.1 trillion pesos to Unión Temporal Integración Logística Electoral 2026, which includes Thomas Greg & Sons, despite the government previously choosing not to renew the company's passport issuance contract. Former National Registrar Juan Carlos Galindo criticized Petro's statements, calling them unacceptable for undermining public trust in the electoral process. Meanwhile, controversy is growing over changes to the passport contract, with long queues reported at Bogotá's passport office and concerns voiced by Marcio Melgosa, the Deputy Attorney General for Public Function, about the National Printing House's capacity to produce passports. Melgosa also mentioned alleged irregularities involving potential overreach by Chief of Staff Alfredo Saade. Additionally, the Colombian Congress recently approved a law that restricts polling firms from conducting and publishing voter intention surveys within three months before the start of candidate registration for elections. This legislative change has sparked debate among political figures and polling experts about its implications for electoral transparency.