A strong institutional tension was unleashed this Thursday, January 15, after at least 17 governors announced that they will not apply several sections of the economic emergency decree issued by the National Government, headed by President Gustavo Petro.

The decision opens a new pulse between the Nation and the regions for fiscal management and territorial autonomy.

The disagreement focuses on Legislative Decree 1474 of 2025, through which the Executive introduced tax adjustments during the state of emergency, including increases in the consumption tax on liquor, cigarettes and other products.

For several departmental leaders, these measures directly affect regional finances and transfer resources that have traditionally been territorial management to the central level.

One of the first to establish a position was the governor of Antioquia, Andrés Julián Rendón, who announced that his administration will resort to the figure of the exception of unconstitutionality to not apply the articles that he considers contrary to the Constitution.

As explained by the Antioquia governor, the decree violates the fiscal autonomy of the departments and puts the financing of key sectors such as health, education and sports at risk.

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This position is not isolated. At least 17 governors, meeting under the coordination of the National Federation of Departments, agreed on a joint strategy while the Constitutional Court advances the automatic control of the constitutionality of the decree.

The regions insist that the consumption tax is a transferred income that is not part of the General Budget of the Nation.

The governor of Valle del Cauca, Dilian Francisca Toro, warned that the increase in these taxes could encourage smuggling and reduce the actual collection, directly affecting social programs financed with these resources.

From the National Government, the response was immediate. The Minister of the Interior, Armando Benedetti, described the decision as a “bad institutional precedent” and warned of possible legal consequences for leaders who are unaware of a norm with the force of law.

Meanwhile, the departments reiterated that their actions comply with constitutional limits and that the Constitutional Court will have the last word.

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