On December 24, 2025, President Gustavo Petro officially announced the appointment of José Raúl Moreno as Head of the Presidential Office, having carried out the functions as manager since August 15, following the departure of Alfredo Saade.
Decree 1424 supporting this decision was signed by the President and Angie Rodríguez, Director of the Administrative Department of the Presidency of the Republic (Dapre).
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“As of today, to properly appoint Mr. José Raúl Moreno as Head of the Presidential Office (Code 1196) of the Administrative Department of the Presidency of the Republic (sic),” the official document reads It consolidates the official within the structure closest to President Petro.
Before assuming responsibilities at Casa de Nariño, Moreno served as an advisor to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection from June 2023 until his transition to the presidency. He then worked as a consultant at Dapre since February 2025; These experiences allowed him to learn in detail the internal dynamics of government and strengthen his ability to manage complex agendas and coordinate ministries.
The decree formalizing his appointment was issued within the framework of the constitutional and legal powers of the Head of State, based on Article 189, paragraph 13, of the Political Constitution: “By this, an ordinary appointment is made,” the administrative act states.
With the ratification, José Raúl Moreno consolidates his position as part of President Petro’s hard core. Its primary role is to coordinate the President’s agenda, articulate policies with ministers, and act as a filter before a matter reaches the President directly.
José Raúl Moreno has extensive experience in institutions that care for victims and ethnic problems. Between May 2015 and November 2024, he worked as a grade 09 specialist in the Special Administrative Unit for Comprehensive Care and Reparation of Victims, and since February 2025, he worked as a contractor in the Ethnic Affairs Directorate of the Land Restitution Unit.
Throughout President Gustavo Petro’s administration, the head of the presidential office was staffed by different officials, leading to various controversies with each transition.
Laura Sarabia was the first to hold this position from August 2022 to June 2023. A close aide to the presidential campaign, she became a senior adviser early in the administration, but her departure was marked by the case known as “Nannygate,” which included investigations into her alleged abuse of power against Marelbys Meza, her son’s former nanny, and questions about possible “pranks.”
In February 2025, Armando Benedetti, now Minister of the Interior, took over the management of the office. His appointment sparked internal tensions that led to the resignation of ministers and public questions. including criticism from Vice President Francia Márquez and the resignation of other Cabinet members.
After him, Pastor Alfredo Saade took over the leadership between June and August 2025, but his term was short and marked by controversies, such as statements about the control of journalism and the discussion about the re-election of the president. Aside from that, The former senior official had some problems getting involved in the controversial case of printing and distributing passports in Colombia.
From that moment on, the position remained virtually vacant as no official appointment had been made and it had not yet been determined who would take it. In addition, it appeared that whoever wanted to occupy it was somehow involved in a scandal or controversy, tarnishing the image of a government that was already facing several challenges.
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