With a serene smile and a bocadillo veleño in hand, Darwin Vargas took office on Thursday, October 30, as a deputy in the Santander Departmental Assembly. The young man, a native of Bolívar (Santander) and a seventh-semester Economics student at the Industrial University of Santander (UIS), officially became the youngest deputy in the country—marking the beginning of a new chapter in departmental politics.
The day was filled with symbolism. At just 22 years old, Vargas represents a generation determined to make its way into spaces traditionally dominated by long-standing political figures. His arrival in the Assembly was made possible after the Council of State annulled the election of Giovanni Leal, in a decision upheld by the Administrative Tribunal of Santander, which confirmed the loss of Leal’s seat due to ineligibility.
A member of the Green Alliance Party, Vargas occupied the next position on the list, having earned more than 4,600 votes in the 2023 elections. His mission now is to strengthen the Green caucus and bring a fresh, academic, and youthful perspective to the debates within the departmental legislature.
“Since I was in my third semester, I decided to run as a candidate. I wanted to show that politics can be done differently—closer to the people, transparent, and coherent,” Darwin told UIS in an interview. His voice, calm yet firm, reflects a conviction that may seem unusual for his age but becomes clear once you know his story.
A graduate of the Nuestra Señora del Pilar School in Bucaramanga, Vargas served as student representative and leader from an early age. That experience planted in him the seed of public service. “I always wanted to study Economics at UIS because it’s one of the best universities in the country, and because I wanted to keep contributing from my homeland,” he says proudly.
Today, he balances his university studies with legislative responsibilities. “It’s a big challenge, but also a wonderful experience. The university gives me the tools to analyze problems deeply. It’s rewarding to see how the topics we study in class can turn into real proposals from within the Assembly.”
Inspired by figures like Antanas Mockus and Carlos Gaviria, Darwin says that coherence, empathy, and transparency are the cornerstones of his political work. “Serving people requires acting with integrity, listening with respect, and working with commitment for everyone’s well-being,” he emphasizes.
In his legislative agenda, he will prioritize education, youth employment, environmental protection, and cultural strengthening. “These are the pillars to build a fairer and more sustainable Santander,” he states.
His arrival also reshapes the internal political landscape of the Assembly, where youth and academia now gain a stronger presence. But beyond party alignments, his story represents a symbol of hope: that of a generation seeking to restore trust in politics through example.
To the university community that sees him as a role model, he sends a direct message: “You don’t need to have power to serve; it’s service that truly gives us power. We UIS students have everything it takes to be the protagonists of the change our country needs.”
For him, UIS is more than a university—it’s his foundation. “It represents education, commitment, and transformation,” he summarizes. Three words that also define his new stage as a public servant.
The UIS, led by Rector Hernán Porras Díaz, sent a message of recognition to Darwin Vargas, encouraging him to assume this important representation with responsibility.
With bocadillo in hand and firm convictions, Darwin Vargas begins to write his own chapter in Santander’s political history: that of a young UIS economist proving that renewal is possible—when it is built through academia, ethics, and hope.
