Daniella Plaza Saldarriaga, an experienced lawyer and councilor, has assumed the presidency of the Santiago de Cali District Council for the 2026 period, becoming the fifth woman to hold this position in the city's history.
Daniella Plaza Saldarriaga, a law graduate from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Cali and specialist in Public Law from Universidad Externado de Colombia, brings a strong background to the leadership of the Santiago de Cali District Council. Prior to her election as councilor, she worked at the Javeriana's legal consultancy, drafting legal opinions and constitutional actions. Her public sector experience includes positions in the Council's Normative Support Unit, the Plan and Lands Commission, and the TIC Secretariat of the Valle del Cauca Governor's Office, supporting security processes and institutional strengthening. As a councilor, she presented 19 political oversight propositions in 2024, focused on youth, mental health, sports, security, and gender-based violence. In 2025, this rose to 35, covering education, health, mobility, culture, and economic development. She served as vice president of the Budget Commission in 2025, attending over 90 sessions to oversee public resource management with a focus on transparency and social investment. Notable projects include the agreement declaring the Women's Race of sporting interest to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and the expansion of housing subsidies for high-performance athletes, Paralympians, military veterans, and caregivers of disabled persons. She has also advanced initiatives in the Development Plan, tax statute, and district budget. Plaza has conducted community visits to address issues like road deterioration, sports facilities, and gender-based violence prevention. On January 14, 2026, 40 years after the first woman in the role, Plaza outlined four key challenges: security, economic dynamics, institutional trust, and mental health. She pledges technical political oversight, absolute transparency, and collaboration with the Mayor's Office, always prioritizing the interests of the city's 2.5 million residents. 'This year, it is the Council of open doors and clear accounts', she stated. On mental health, she stressed: 'Mental health must be an non-negotiable priority, because caring for it is also an act of love for Cali'.
