Colombia government appoints 16 viceministers amid earthquake recovery requests

The administration of President Abelardo de la Espriella has moved forward with the appointment of 16 viceministers and high-level officials to support the ministerial agenda. The new cabinet is balanced with nine women and nine men, tasked with managing administrative acts and coordinating with regional leaders across the country's 32 departments.

Simultaneously, the Colombian Federation of Municipalities, led by President Julián Sánchez ‘Perico’, has requested urgent government intervention to aid earthquake recovery. The federation is calling for the issuance of emergency decrees to facilitate reconstruction and community care.

Key requests include the ability to reallocate 7% of resources from the General Participation System (SGP) originally intended for sports and culture toward repairing residential and commercial infrastructure. They are also seeking tax relief and increased flexibility for public and private investment to reactivate local economies in the affected zones.