The Pacto Histórico political party will organize peaceful gatherings in three Colombian cities on Aug. 7, 2026 [1].

These events serve as a direct challenge to the incoming administration. By coordinating these gatherings on the day of the presidential inauguration, the opposition seeks to establish a visible presence of civil disobedience against the president-elect.

Senator Iván Cepeda, representing the Pacto Histórico, said the party will not attend the official inauguration ceremony. He said the decision is an act of civil disobedience [2]. The party has designated Bogotá, Cali, and Barranquilla as the sites for these events [1].

Cepeda said the gatherings are intended to be stationary and non-disruptive. He said, "No habrá movilizaciones ese día en nuestras convocatorias en Cali, Bogotá y Barranquilla" [3]. He said these concentrations are peaceful and do not involve marches [3].

Security forces are preparing for the day's events. More than 1,000 uniformed officers will be deployed to guarantee security for the inauguration event [4]. These deployments come as the country approaches the transition of power in less than six days [4].

Cepeda said, "El Pacto Histórico no asistirá al acto de posesión bajo el acto de desobediencia civil" [2]. The strategy aims to signal a lack of recognition or support for Abelardo De La Espriella as he assumes the presidency.

“"The Pacto Histórico will not attend the inauguration act under the act of civil disobedience."”

The decision by the Pacto Histórico to boycott the inauguration and organize parallel gatherings signals a deeply polarized political climate in Colombia. By framing the absence as 'civil disobedience,' the opposition is not merely skipping a ceremony but is actively contesting the legitimacy or direction of the De La Espriella administration from day one. The deployment of over 1,000 security personnel suggests the government is anticipating potential volatility, despite the party's insistence that the events will remain peaceful.