Acting President of Colombia

An acting president of Colombia is a person who lawfully exercises the powers and duties of the President of Colombia even though that person does not hold office in his own right. There is an established line of presidential succession in which officials of the Colombian national government can be called upon to assume presidential responsibilities if the main president becomes incapacitated, dies, resigns, is removed from office (by Impeachment by accusation by the Supreme Court of Justice) during his four-year term, or if a president-elect has not been elected by Inauguration Day or has not qualified by that date.

The vice president immediately assumes the presidency upon the death, resignation, or removal of the president from office. Similarly, if a president-elect died during the transition period, or declined to serve, the vice president-elect would become president on Inauguration Day. A vice president can also become acting president if the president becomes incapacitated. If the presidency and vice presidency were simultaneously vacant, the eventual successor will not become president, but only will be in charge. Since 1886 to date, nineteen people, including three vice presidents and sixteen designates have served as acting president.