International reporting
Presidential election in Colombia: Federico Gutierrez supporters continue to believe in victory
Audio 02:39
Federico Gutierrez, the presidential candidate of the Team for Colombia coalition (right-wing party), greets a supporter before giving a press conference in Bogota, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. AP - Fernando Vergara
By: Najet Benrabaa Follow
2 mins
More than a few hours before the first round of the presidential election in Colombia.
The leftist candidate, Gustavo Petro, is the favorite in the polls.
But, in the region of Antioquia, a bastion of the right, we still want to believe in the victory of its candidate Federico Gutierrez.
How are his supporters preparing for the vote?
What do they think of the polls in favor of the left?
Advertising
With our correspondent in Medellín,
Cap screwed on the head with the effigy of the right-wing candidate Federico Gutierrez, thousands of people gathered to confirm their support for the former mayor of Medellín.
Harlen Figueroa is convinced that his candidate will triumph.
"
People are very enthusiastic, especially since we are in Medellín and the pesas, the inhabitants of the city, are combative people, who do not want anything for free,
" she confides.
They are workers who welcome Federico with open arms, because this is his home.
Here, we would give our lives for democracy and for him who defends it.
We are sure that he will triumph.
If it's not in the first round, it will be in the second.
»
Her neighbor Omaira Hernandez Carvajal is also convinced that Federico Gutierrez, alias Fico, is the only right-wing candidate who can save the country from insecurity.
“
He was a very good mayor of Medellín so I know he will be a good president of Colombia.
He will not win in the first round, but in the second round against Petro.
It is hoped that the political parties that will be eliminated will rally to Federico, because their programs are the same as his
.
»
► To read also: Colombia: the left at the gates of power?
In Medellín, however, the left has gained ground, in particular thanks to the voice of young people who rallied en masse to the candidate
Gustavo Petro
.
While the region has been dominated for 20 years by right-wing governance, in particular by the emblematic ex-president Alvaro Uribe and his Democratic Center party.
According to the French political scientist, Yann Basset, who teaches political science at the University of Rosario in Bogota, the right has lost its historical strength, its candidate is the illustration: “
Federico Gutierrez is weakened.
Constant in voting intentions.
And candidate Hernandez Rodolfo can change everything.
Unexpected candidate.
»
Nearly 39 million Colombians are called to the polls.
In Medellín, the watchword of right-wing supporters is to go and vote as soon as the polls open.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Colombia