The controversial change in the board of directors of the Fábrica de Licores de Antioquia (FLA) is raising concerns in the region. Is this a move towards privatization?

News: Deputies warn that the new ordinance proposed by Governor Andrés Julián Rendón would give private entities control of the liquor factory. Fábrica de Licores de Antioquia - FLA Photo: Fábrica de Licores de Antioquia - FLAPERIODISTA 24.03.2026 11:00 Updated: 24.03.2026 11:00 The future of the Fábrica de Licores y Alcoholes de Antioquia (FLA) is at the center of a heated political debate in the department. This Tuesday, March 24, the Departmental Assembly will continue the first debate of Project Ordinance No. 4 of 2026, an initiative that seeks to modify the composition of the Board of Directors of the entity. From the opposition, Deputy Manuel María García Lozano issued a strong warning, stating that approving this ordinance would "open the door to the privatization of the FLA." Fábrica de Licores de Antioquia - FLA Photo: Fábrica de Licores de Antioquia - FLA According to the deputy, the proposal aims to place the majority of the board in the hands of the private sector, giving the decisions of the most important public company in Antioquia to "private interests." García described the measure as another "misstep" by Governor Andrés Julián Rendón, comparing it to previous controversial initiatives such as the "tax" on roads and the security tax. To these accusations, Deputy Luis Peláez added that the economic impact of the company is significant, recalling that, in 2025 alone, the FLA sold 73.2 million bottles of aguardiente, transferring 1.2 billion pesos to health, education, and sports in the department. Fábrica de Licores de Antioquia - FLA Photo: Fábrica de Licores de Antioquia - FLA Peláez explained that the risk lies in the fact that the Governor seeks to change the current balance of the board (three public members and two private members) to appoint three private members of his choice. The most critical point, according to the deputy, is the timing: the new governor who takes office in 2027 would not be able to change these members during 2028, a strategic year in which the new distributors of the liquor factory will be chosen, who will ultimately retain the largest share of the business's profits. What the document says: The official document of Project Ordinance No. 04 states verbatim that the FLA will remain a "one hundred percent (100%) public" State Industrial and Commercial Company. However, the controversial Article 8 confirms what the deputies have warned about the composition of the board: it would have five members without alternates, composed of the Governor (or his delegate), the Secretary of Finance (or his delegate), and three independent members of the private sector "freely appointed by the Governor." In addition, paragraph 1 of this article protects these private members with a fixed term of four years, establishing that the Governor can only remove them after one year from their appointment. Fábrica de Licores de Antioquia - FLA Photo: Fábrica de Licores de Antioquia - FLA In response to the controversy, the Government of Antioquia has strongly rejected the accusations. The departmental administration argues that Colombian law allows the participation of private individuals on the boards of decentralized entities to provide technical, academic, and scientific knowledge, without this constituting privatization. They emphasize that privatization only occurs when public assets are transferred to private hands, which is not the case in this project, and defend the modification as a simple "adjustment in corporate governance" aimed at making the company more competitive. The Government has requested that the analysis be based on legality and transparency, avoiding what they consider "misinterpretations or circumstantial views." Follow all the information from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter. NEWSLETTERS EL TIEMPO Register for our newsletters and receive news in your email according to your interests. Stay informed with what really matters to you. EL TIEMPO GOOGLE NEWS Follow us on GOOGLE NEWS. Stay always updated with the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on Google News. EL TIEMPO WHATSAPP Join the El Tiempo channel on WhatsApp to stay up-to-date with the most relevant news at the moment. EL TIEMPO APP Stay informed with the EL TIEMPO app. Receive the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on your device. SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL Reliable information for you. Subscribe to EL TIEMPO and access our journalistic content without limits.