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the Administrative Contentious Chamber of the State Council is scheduled to convene on August 14 for a second instance hearing concerning the election of Jaime Beltrán as mayor of Bucaramanga. This date was set due to the August 7th holiday, which would have otherwise fallen on the chamber’s regular weekly meeting day.
The upcoming session will determine the political future of Mayor Beltrán, who faces an appeal against a first-instance ruling that annulled his election.The Administrative Court of Santander, on december 12, 2024, declared Beltrán’s election void, citing alleged double militancy during the 2023 regional elections. The court’s decision was based on the assertion that Beltrán supported candidates from multiple political parties, not exclusively those from his own party’s council slate.
Magistrate Luis Alberto Álvarez Parra of the fifth section of the State Council is tasked with presenting a project of fault to the other three members of the chamber. This project will recommend either the revocation or ratification of the initial ruling by the Administrative Court of Santander.
The outcome of this second instance hearing holds meaningful implications.If the State Council upholds the Santander Court’s decision, Mayor Beltrán will be removed from office, necessitating atypical elections to fill the mayoral vacancy. Conversely, if the State council revokes the annulment, Beltrán Martínez will remain in his position and could possibly serve his full constitutional term