Tensions between Armando Benedetti, Minister of the Interior, and Alfredo Saade, Chief of Staff, at the Casa de Nariño? | Secretly

In the halls of the Nariño Palace, there is talk of a dispute between Interior Minister Armando Benedetti and Chief of Staff Alfredo Saade, both of whom belong to the president's inner circle . And it seems the controversial, self-proclaimed pastor is taking the lead, so much so that in recent weeks he has gained more prominence and has become not only the president's whisperer, but also the Nariño Palace's spokesperson on several important issues. In some circles, there is considerable concern that Saade—who shouts "reelection" every chance he gets—is now the president's right-hand man.

At the business congress that Andi will hold from August 13 to 15 in Cartagena, during its annual meeting, one of the most innovative segments will be the conversation between Colombian-born U.S. Senators Bernie Moreno (Republican) and Rubén Gallego (Democrat) . Both will visit the country to build bridges between the two nations at one of the most sensitive moments in the bilateral relationship. Also participating in the panel will be Juan Carlos Pinzón, Colombia's two-time ambassador to Washington, and Juan Lozano. The panel will evaluate the current state of more than 200 years of diplomatic relations and analyze their future.

The Viva Ceremony of the grand concert celebrating Santa Marta's 500th anniversary, which took place this week, featured a very special dancer. Without fanfare, the Minister of Culture, Yannai Kadamami Fonrodona, took the stage with more than 100 artists and took part in one of the birthday celebrations for Colombia's oldest city . The head of the ministry was able to reminisce, before thousands of spectators, about her time as a professional dancer and dance director.

The victory of liberal Miguel Ángel Pinto as president of Senate Committee VII made it clear that the ruling party is in the minority in that legislative body, which is handling the 2.0 healthcare reform. Unlike what happened in April 2024 with the initiative, this time they are not seeking to shelve it, but rather to take advantage of that majority—eight votes out of 14—to push through a reform that, in their opinion, is best for the country. It remains to be seen whether the government supports these modifications or prefers to shelve the bill.

The assembly of the En Marcha party, founded by former Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo , where the party's presidential candidate is expected to be decided, was scheduled for August, but it was decided to postpone it to September. The reason? The former minister will lead the OAS Electoral Mission for the elections in Bolivia on August 17. The decision was made because, had Cristo been elected as the party's presidential candidate, he would not be able to keep the meeting with the Bolivian people.

This week, the National Electoral Council announced that 17 political parties have requested to hold internal or popular consultations on October 26. Most of the parties are part of the Historic Pact, but it was noteworthy that the Democratic Center and the Liberal Party have also requested this space from the electoral authority. While it's not a given that they will go to the party elections, it does mean they haven't ruled out the possibility, although, for example, some within the Democratic Center believe that a poll is the best option.