The Chief of Staff of the Presidency (Spanish: El Jefe de Despacho de la Presidencia de la República de Colombia) is the head of the Executive Office of the President of Colombia and a position in the cabinet of the national government of Colombia.
The chief of staff is a person politically appointed by the President of the Republic who does not require the confirmation of the Senate and who serves at the discretion of the President. Although it is not a legally required role, all presidents since Álvaro Uribe have appointed a chief of staff, whose name has varied.[1]
The chief of staff is the highest-ranking political appointee in the Casa de Nariño. The position is widely recognized as one of great power and influence, due to daily contact with the President of the Republic and control of the Executive Office of the President of Colombia.[2]
This position is part of the Administrative Department of the Presidency (DAPRE) and together with the person who heads this department, they form what is informally known as "the president's first decision-making circle."[3] Their functions include advising the president in the development of public policy, coordinating the presidential agenda, and presenting to the president for consideration matters from the ministries, among other functions.
History
The position was created in September 2019 during the presidency of Iván Duque under the name of Chief of Staff, inspired by the figure of the United States government Chief of Staff or Chief of Staff of the White House , from the merger of the figures of general secretary and private secretary , which had been functioning in previous governments in Colombia, and had similar functions, since the presidency of Alvaro Uribe.[4]
In the Gustavo Petro administration, the post has been vacant since June 2023. In August it was announced that Cielo Rusinque would be appointed to the role, but this was reversed the following day.[5]
![María Paula Correa[6][7]](File:No_image.png)
![Laura Sarabia[8][9]](File:Laura_Sarabia_02.jpg)
