Colombia's president‑elect appoints Miguel Gómez Martínez as finance minister

President‑elect Abelardo de la Espriella confirmed that economist Miguel Gómez Martínez will take charge of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit on 7 August, becoming the second confirmed member of his cabinet. Gómez, a former vice‑controller general, president of Bancóldex, and ambassador to France, is tasked with restoring fiscal discipline, cutting the deficit and reforming the tax system. In an interview he warned “la fiesta se acabó,” emphasizing the need for austerity, tighter public spending and a review of the national budget.

The transition between the outgoing Petro administration and the incoming government is being coordinated by vice‑president‑elect José Manuel Restrepo and outgoing finance minister Germán Ávila. Restrepo’s letter to President Gustavo Petro called for an “ordered, audited, verifiable and public” hand‑over, setting up a schedule of meetings and the involvement of the Procuraduría and Contraloría.

Opposition leader Iván Cepeda has announced a campaign of “peaceful civil disobedience” unless de la Espriella renounces his U.S. citizenship and clarifies alleged ties to U.S. security agencies, adding further tension to the transition.

Vice‑president‑elect Restrepo also said the new administration will summon an extraordinary Ecopetrol shareholders’ meeting to replace its board and president, aiming to restructure the state oil company.

These moves highlight the new government’s focus on fiscal consolidation, institutional reform and a contested political environment as it prepares to assume power on 7 August.