Government stops delivery of notaries nationwide

The government has suspended the nationwide delivery of notarial positions following orders from President Abelardo de la Espriella. The Superintendence of Notariado and Registration announced the halt of all administrative acts related to assigning notaries to interim appointees made during 2026. This decision was issued by newly appointed Superintendent Joaquín José Méndez Llach, a lawyer close to the president. The move aims to ensure strict adherence to the principles of legality, transparency, merit, and capacity established by law. Méndez Llach initiated a “forensic audit” into the expedited appointments of notaries. According to the Superintendence of Notariado and Registration, the suspension is preventive in nature. It does not invalidate any existing appointments. The audit will examine potential irregularities in how these positions were assigned. The measure comes amid growing scrutiny over the process of selecting notaries, which have long been considered lucrative roles due to their stability and financial benefits. The recent wave of appointments was part of a last-minute maneuver by former President Gustavo Petro before he left office. On the day he stepped down, Petro named eight new notaries to replace officials who had reached retirement age. These appointments were among several rushed decisions made in the final days of his administration. Most of the notaries were placed in positions held by political allies or individuals connected to senior government figures. They were appointed on an interim basis because, according to the government, the list of eligible candidates from 2016 ceased to be valid in July 2018. Additional appointments followed on August 5th, bringing the total number of interim notaries to ten. Among those appointed were Efvanni Paola Palmariny Peñaranda, who took charge of Notary 78 in Bogotá. Palmariny previously served as the commercial vice-president of Colpensiones, an entity led until its closure under the administration of former president Jaime Dussán, a political ally of Petro. Karyme Cotes was appointed to the Sixth Notary in Medellín. She was a Liberal representative for Sucre from 2022 to 2026 and remained active within Petro’s inner circle. Rubén Alonso Méndez was designated to the Second Notary in Girardot. His father, Eleonora Pineda, was convicted in 2008 for involvement in the parapolitical scandal and is currently free on bail. This pattern of appointing notaries through emergency measures is not unique to Petro. Former President Iván Duque similarly named notaries just days before leaving office. Similarly, the Uribe administration had faced controversy for appointing notaries to congress members, such as Yidis Medina, amid allegations of political favoritism known as “yidispolítica.” These cases highlight a recurring issue in Colombian governance, where the lack of an updated list of qualified candidates has enabled governments to fill notarial posts with individuals of their choosing, often bypassing formal selection processes. Notarial positions are highly sought after due to their financial rewards and job security. Despite requiring selection based on merit, the absence of a current eligibility list has allowed governments to assign these roles through temporary appointments, granting them considerable discretion in the selection process. Critics argue this undermines the integrity of the notarial system and raises concerns about accountability and fairness. As the forensic audit proceeds, further details on the extent of these practices and their implications for public trust in the judiciary may emerge.