Senator Berenice Bedoya is facing intensifying scrutiny following allegations that she pressured members of the ASI party to meet specific vote quotas in exchange for job security. These new claims, involving internal party directives and conditional resignation letters, emerge alongside an existing criminal investigation into the senator regarding alleged financial irregularities within her Legislative Work Unit (UTL).
Allegations of electoral pressure within the ASI party
Former ASI party officials report that the senator required party members to secure minimum vote counts for her congressional campaign. According to internal documentation and testimonies, these requirements were explicitly tied to the retention of their positions. Olga Fabiola Pereira Yance, formerly the party’s secretary of ethnic affairs, stated that she was required to secure 600 votes, a goal she exceeded, yet she still faced dismissal.
Documentation obtained by journalists indicates that other party members were assigned varying quotas, ranging from 1,000 to 5,800 votes. These targets were formally recorded in pre-signed resignation letters, which would purportedly take effect if the electoral goals were not met by the March 8 election date.
Senator Berenice Bedoya was not re-elected in the congressional race held on March 8, despite the internal party mandates that allegedly required staff and executives to secure specific voter quotas to maintain their roles within the ASI structure.
The senator’s response to internal directives
Senator Bedoya has publicly rejected allegations of electoral coercion, maintaining that the establishment of performance goals is standard practice. According to her statements, the vote targets were not imposed unilaterally but were instead suggested and reached through consensus with the party team. She asserts that setting such goals is neither illegal nor contrary to the party’s statutes, which she describes as the “bible” for their operational procedures.
Bedoya further clarified that the submission of resignation letters was not a mandatory requirement for all staff members. She noted that certain individuals within the party’s committee and the national ombudsman did not sign such documents, which she argues supports her claim that the process was not an act of forced pressure.
The core tension here lies in the intersection of political organizational autonomy and labor rights. While political movements often set performance metrics, the use of signed resignation letters as a contingency for failing to meet electoral quotas creates a significant legal and ethical risk, as it effectively ties professional tenure to political outcomes rather than administrative performance.
Legal challenges and broader corruption investigations
The current controversy adds to a series of legal challenges facing the senator. On February 16, 2026, attorney Sergio Mesa filed a formal criminal complaint with the Supreme Court, alleging that Bedoya and her daughter pressured him to transfer a portion of his UTL salary—totaling approximately 30 million pesos—between 2024 and 2025. Mesa has since expanded his complaint to include allegations of calumny.
Additionally, the senator’s name has surfaced in connection with the corruption investigation into the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD). Following testimony from former director Olmedo López, the Supreme Court reactivated an investigation into alleged exchanges of political favors. As part of this process, the Court ordered a version-free testimony from the senator on May 6, 2026, to address claims of potential influence peddling and irregularities in state contracting.
What could happen next?
Given the formal nature of the complaints filed with the Supreme Court, the legal proceedings against the senator are likely to continue as investigators evaluate the testimony and documentation provided. Analysts expect that if the Court finds sufficient evidence of illegal pressure or financial wrongdoing, the senator could face further formal charges. Simultaneously, the internal divisions within the ASI party, highlighted by the public denunciation of its former executives, may lead to increased oversight or calls for structural reform within the movement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Berenice Bedoya say about the accusations of demanding votes for the congressional elections?
The senator denied any wrongdoing, stating that setting electoral goals is normal and legal for a political team. She claimed the targets were suggested and agreed upon by the team rather than imposed as an act of coercion.
What documents support the allegations against Berenice Bedoya in the ASI party?
Evidence includes resignation letters signed by various party directors, which explicitly listed specific vote quotas for the Senate. These documents are cited by former members as proof that their job security was conditional upon meeting these electoral goals.
What other investigations and complaints does Berenice Bedoya currently face?
The senator is under investigation by the Supreme Court for alleged salary kickbacks from a former UTL member. She is also linked to the UNGRD corruption scandal and faces public scrutiny regarding potential influence peddling in state contracts, all of which remain under review by judicial authorities.
Do you believe that internal party performance requirements should be regulated by labor laws to prevent potential electoral abuse?