After the murder of presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán in August 1989, students started a movement calling for a referendum "for peace and democracy" to be held on 21 January 1990.

[2] However, under pressure from drug cartels, the government rejected the proposal.

The students then set up the "We can still save Colombia" movement, which called for a referendum alongside the general elections on 11 March 1990 on establishing a Constitutional Assembly.

[2] Following the unofficial referendum, President Virgilio Barco Vargas issued decree 927 on 3 May calling a referendum on electing a Constitutional Assembly alongside the presidential elections on 27 May.

[1] Although this was in violation of article 114[3] of the constitution, which gave Congress sole rights to reform the constitution, the referendum was approved by the Supreme Court.