Quién es Santiago Castro Gómez

Santiago Castro Gómez is a Colombian economist and political figure who has held multiple roles within both public service and private sectors. Currently, he is associated with the Centro Democrático party and has been involved in local and regional politics, particularly in the Valle del Cauca region. He recently served as manager of a 3.5 billion peso loan for the City Council of Cali, marking his latest professional engagement before entering electoral politics. Castro Gómez began his career in the private sector until 1990, after which he entered politics as a councilman in Cali representing the Conservative Party. His political journey continued with a term as a member of the House of Representatives, during which he was re-elected for four consecutive terms. In 1994, he moved up to the Chamber of Representatives, where he remained active for several years. In 2010, under President Juan Manuel Santos' administration, Castro Gómez took on the role of head of the Civil Aviation Authority, known as Aerocivil. However, he left this position in 2014 to support Santos' re-election campaign. Despite the Conservative Party's preference for Marta Lucía Ramírez as its presidential candidate, Castro Gómez returned to Bogotá to coordinate national support for Santos, leading efforts referred to as “Conservadores con Santos.” His influence extended further in 2015 when he became president of the Asociación Bancaria y de Entidades Financieras de Colombia, representing the financial sector nationally. Two years later, he assumed leadership of the Consejo Gremial, an organization composed of various labor unions across the country. During this time, he expressed criticism towards the peace agreement with the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), notably opposing the referendum intended to ratify the accord. Under the second term of Santos, Castro Gómez turned against the peace process, adopting a more independent stance. Since then, he has worked as an independent consultant and has been part of the board of Propacífico, a private foundation promoting projects in the Pacific region. In 2022, he actively supported the campaign of Federico Gutiérrez, demonstrating his growing presence in political circles. His relationship with the Conservative Party began to shift as the party aligned itself with the government of former President Gustavo Petro. This alignment led to Castro Gómez’s resignation in 2022, signaling a formal break from the party. A year later, he ran for governor of the Valle del Cauca, securing nearly 92,000 votes and positioning himself as a counterweight to the Dilianismo movement. In 2023, Castro Gómez sought the gubernatorial candidacy of the Valle del Cauca once again, reinforcing his ambitions in regional politics. His current association with the Centro Democrático party positions him as a strategic figure in maintaining the legislative seat of Christian Garcés, currently serving as a senator. His campaign received backing from the political group of Garcés, including figures such as the deputy Rafael Rodríguez and the mayor of Cali, Felipe Murgueitio. Castro Gómez’s career reflects a blend of economic expertise and political maneuvering, navigating through different factions and ideological shifts within Colombian politics. His recent activities underscore his ongoing relevance in both political and economic spheres, as he continues to shape policy and strategy in key regions of the country.