Geopolitics, the debate
Colombia: turn left?
Audio 39:50
Colombian President Iván Duque votes during legislative elections in Bogotá, Colombia, on Sunday, March 13, 2022. (Illustrative image) AP - Fernando Vergara
By: Marie-France Chatin Follow
1 min
Presidential election in Colombia this Sunday, May 29, with a possible second round on June 19.
The election comes after four years of particularly turbulent presidency of Iván Duque of the right-wing Democratic Center Party.
Party that had opposed the peace agreements between the former guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the previous government of Juan Manuel Santos, by defeating the referendum organized on the subject in 2016 and forcing changes to the text initial.
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A contrasting record than that of Iván Duque, with the positive points of a rather benevolent policy of welcoming migrants from neighboring Venezuela, which particularly contrasted with the rather hostile reactions of other countries in the region.
And a response to the pandemic judged favorably despite a dramatic human toll.
But the right approaches the election from a position of weakness.
Strong unpopularity of the outgoing president which strongly changes the panorama in comparison with the previous elections.
Thus, it is the left-wing candidate, Gustavo Petro, unfortunate opponent of Iván Duque in the second round four years ago, main leader of the opposition, who benefits from this rejection of the government and appears as a favorite for the presidential election.
Fifty million inhabitants, third economic power of Latin America after Mexico and Brazil, first ally of the USA in the region, Colombia goes to the polls.
Guests:
Mathilde Allain,
Lecturer in political science at IHEAL, Sorbonne Nouvelle University.
Jacobo Grajales,
Professor of political science at the University of Lille.
Junior member of the Institut Universitaire de France.
Christophe Ventura,
Research Director at Iris.
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Geopolitics
Colombia
Ivan Duque
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