President Abelardo De La Espriella presided over the swearing-in ceremony for nine new magistrates of Colombia's National Electoral Council (CNE) in Barranquilla on September 1, 2026. ^[1] The nine new magistrates of the CNE were elected by the Congress of the Republic on August 25, 2026, following a deliberation and negotiation process between different political factions. ^[2] President Abelardo de la Espriella instructed the nine new magistrates of the National Electoral Council (CNE) to assume their responsibilities with strict adherence to the Constitution and the law. ^[3] The nine magistrates appointed to the new CNE are Nubia Stella Martínez, Cielo Rusinque, Ana Jimena Bautista, José Antonio Parra, Plinio Alarcón, Silvio Carrasquilla, Juan Carlos Wills, Juan Felipe Lemos, and Gersel Pérez. ^[4] The new CNE magistrates will serve a constitutional term from 2026 to 2030, responsible for monitoring, regulating, and controlling electoral activities and political actions in Colombia. ^[5] Abelardo de la Espriella asserted that a representative democracy's most critical moment occurs when individual votes transform into a collective decision. ^[6] The President claimed that the previous government, in conjunction with terrorist structures, attempted to alter the popular will through corruption and election interference. ^[7] The President stated that the CNE's performance over the next four years will largely determine Colombian citizens' trust in democratic institutions. ^[8] President Abelardo De La Espriella called on the new CNE members to exercise their functions with independence, strict adherence to the Constitution and law, and prioritizing the general interest over personal or partisan interests. ^[9] Seven of the nine new magistrates are of officialist alignment. ^[10] The new CNE magistrates have the task of reviewing campaign financing point by point. ^[11] The new CNE magistrates will supervise elections without budget autonomy. ^[12]