Minute30.com .- In a decision that shakes the national political landscape, the Government of Gustavo Petro signed this Tuesday the decree that eliminates the service bonus for Colombian legislators. The measure represents a milestone, as it comes after more than 20 bills were sunk in Congress in recent years that sought, without success, for the parliamentarians themselves to lower their salaries.

According to the Ministry of Finance, this decision seeks to reduce the wage inequality gap and responds to the clamor of public opinion that considers the income of congressmen to be disproportionate compared to the rest of the population.

How much will the reduction be?

The elimination of the bonus, which was in force since the government of Juan Manuel Santos (Decree 2170 of 2013), will mean a strong adjustment in monthly remuneration:

Amount of reduction: Between $12 and $16 million pesos for each congressman.

Start date: The rule will come into force as of July 20, 2026, coinciding with the inauguration of the new Congress.

Impact: With this, Colombia would no longer have one of the best-paid congresses in Latin America compared to its minimum wage.

“A salary so far removed from the citizen does not make sense”

The measure has generated immediate reactions on Capitol Hill. Senator Angélica Lozano, one of the historical promoters of the salary reduction, celebrated the decision:

“It makes no sense that in a society, congressmen have a salary that is so different and so far from the ordinary citizen who is grinding from early on,” acknowledged the legislator.

For its part, the Ministry of Finance explained that repealing the 2013 decree is the fastest legal means to apply the adjustment, preventing the discussion from depending again on the will of those affected in the Congressional commissions.

Savings for the State coffers

In addition to the symbolic message of austerity, the elimination of this bonus will represent a saving of nearly 4.5 billion pesos per month for the public treasury.