Colombia Senate elects Honorio Henríquez, sparking 'petrouribismo' debate

Senator Honorio Henríquez of the Centro Democrático was elected president of the Colombian Senate for the 2026‑2027 legislative period, receiving 56 votes and defeating Alfredo Deluque, who was backed by president‑elect Abelardo De la Espriella. A number of senators from the opposition Pacto Histórico voted for Henríquez, creating an unexpected cross‑party alignment.

The voting outcome led to the rapid spread of the term “petrouribismo” to describe the surprising coincidence between the Petro‑aligned party and the Uribe‑aligned party. Political commentator Jairo Ladino highlighted the phenomenon on X, and Centro Democrático senator Rafael Nieto emphasized that no formal alliance exists between the two factions. Analysts see the result as an early indicator of how congressional majorities may be built through situational agreements, even among historically opposed groups.