Presidential election in Colombia: a historic vote and a thirst for change
Campaign poster of Colombian left-wing presidential candidate Gustavo Petro of the Historical Pact coalition days before the first round of elections in Bogota, Colombia May 27, 2022. REUTERS - LUISA GONZALEZ
Text by: RFI Follow
5 mins
The leftist candidate, Gustavo Petro, is the favorite in the polls.
This worries part of the Colombian electorate who prefer to line up behind the right-wing conservative candidate Federico Gutierrez, himself hounded by an anti-system troublemaker who is gaining power on the internet, Rodolfo Hernandez.
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This Sunday, May 29 will take place the first round of the presidential election in Colombia.
The favorite in the ballot is a former guerrilla and ex-mayor of Bogota, Gustavo Petro.
The left-wing opponent remains in the lead in the polls
with more than 40% of voting intentions
.
Presidential candidate Gustavo Petro of the Historic Pact coalition speaks to supporters during a campaign rally in Fusagasuga, Colombia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. © AP Photo/Fernando Vergara
Gustavo Petro, the former guerrilla
“
I'm sure that next Sunday we will change the history of Colombia.
“Gustavo Petro wanted to be confident during his last campaign meeting last Sunday, reports
Achim Lippold
.
For the first time, the ex-guerrilla has a real chance of becoming the first left-wing president of this country, traditionally governed by the right.
This is the third time that this social-democratic senator has tried his luck, in one of the most unequal countries in the world.
This time, his anti-liberal program is in tune with the times: he takes up the demands of the hundreds of thousands of demonstrators who took to the streets last year.
Gustavo Petro promises to increase taxes for the richest, to raise salaries and to guarantee quality public education.
His conservative rivals describe him as a left-wing extremist.
His rhetoric against corruption and in favor of the application of the 2016 peace agreements clashes with the interests of paramilitary groups, not to mention drug traffickers.
Moreover, for several weeks, he has been escorted by about sixty bodyguards who protect him behind armored shields.
The risk of an attack is considered real: at the beginning of the month, Gustavo Petro had to cancel a trip,
► Report - Colombia: the left at the gates of power?
Conservative candidate Federico Gutierrez during a presidential debate on May 23, 2022. © Fernando Vergara/AP
Federico Gutierrez, the hope of the right
He is closely followed by the conservative candidate Federico Gutierrez, alias Fico, who first proved himself as a municipal councilor in Medellín from 2004 to 2012, reports
our correspondent in Medellín,
Najet Benrabaa
.
He was then elected mayor of the city.
During his tenure, from 2016 to 2020, he demonstrated an iron fist against organized crime networks.
He is known for his hunt for gang leaders.
He also made the largest investment in the country's history in education, employment and entrepreneurship.
His popularity rating in this position had exceeded 80%.
At 47, this career civil engineer is also an urban planner and consultant in urban security.
He is running in the presidential election without a political party, but with a coalition called "
Equipo por Colombia
" (Team for Colombia).
It brings together several right-wing and center parties.
The major traditional parties, such as the Democratic Center, the U Party or even Radical Change,
have all given him their support
.
His electoral campaign speech focuses mainly on "
the preservation of democracy and freedoms
" against the left-wing candidate, Gustavo Petro, whom he accuses of being the representative of a "
populist and authoritarian project
".
Posters of candidate Rodolfo Hernández in Bogota, in May 2022. AP - Fernando Vergara
Rodolfo Hernández Suárez, populist and surprise candidate
But the second place of Federico Gutierrez
is increasingly contested by independent candidate Rodolfo Hernández Suárez, a sign that Colombians are tired of traditional parties.
Until a few weeks ago Rodolfo Hernández Suárez was unknown on the national political scene.
“
When I talk about the fight against corruption, I mean that Colombia needs a moral renewal
,” he says.
To support his remarks, this millionaire, who made his fortune by building social housing, financed his electoral campaign himself.
He does not hold any meetings and his team only has eight people.
His videos with easy promises do not reveal any detailed program.
And yet they are a real hit on social networks and this 76-year-old candidate is the darling of young people on TikTok.
Santiago is a student and will vote this Sunday for "Rodolfo", as everyone calls him.
“
At the beginning he was very low in the polls.
And suddenly, we saw him break through.
He is a strong candidate.
He is old school.
He has a strong character and a certain outspokenness
”, admires the young man, met in Bogota by
our special correspondent
Stefanie Schuler
.
It is precisely this spectacular breakthrough in voting intentions that worries Gustavo Petro's camp: Rodolfo Hernandez attracts center votes and anti-system voices.
These voters that Gustavo Petro needs to win the presidential election.
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