Colombians will vote in a high-stakes test of Gustavo Petro’s agenda
The 14-candidate race has narrowed to three contenders, and opponents want to reverse Petro-era reforms on taxes, labor rules and peace talks.
- On May 31, Colombia will elect a new president in a vote viewed as a referendum on President Gustavo Petro's policies, with 14 candidates competing in a three-horse race.
- Outgoing President Petro, a former M-19 member, is barred from seeking reelection, leaving his Historical Pact party to defend controversial peace negotiations and economic reforms including a 23% minimum wage increase this year.
- Senator Cepeda of the Historical Pact faces Paloma Valencia of the Democratic Center and independent lawyer Abelardo, nicknamed The Tiger, who claims he runs without establishment party support.
- With more than 41.2 million registered voters, no candidate needs a simple majority; if none reaches 50% of the vote, a runoff will be held June 21 between the top two contenders.
- This contest marks the third largest presidential election in Latin America as The Red Cross reports Colombia's armed conflict reached its worst humanitarian toll in a decade, with 225,000 people displaced last year.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Will Colombia keep left?
Four years ago, Colombia tried a new tack, electing a left-wing president for the first time. Since taking office, Gustavo Petro has raised income taxes for top earners, halted new oil exploration in a bid to phase out fossil fuels, expanded access to government services like education in rural areas, and hiked the country’s minimum wage by 23%. He has also tried to deal with the country’s powerful armed groups via negotiations, rather than brut…
Colombians to vote in high-stakes test of President Gustavo Petro’s agenda
Colombia will elect a new president and vice president in a vote Sunday that has been cast as a referendum on outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s policies. A former member of Colombia’s M-19 guerrilla group which fought for social justice in the 1970s and '80s, Petro has undertaken controversial peace negotiations with the country's remaining rebel groups while pushing for social and economic reforms that include an overhaul of the nation’s labor…
Health has taken on an unusual role in the campaign for Colombia’s presidential elections, the first round of which is held on Sunday. Polls indicate that this sector, usually relegated from political discourse because of its little taquilero technicalities, has become the main concern of voters. The system is on the verge of collapse: dispensaries deny medicines, hospitals close services and specialists do not have appointments available. No ca…
Gustavo Petro’s successor will govern a country with less poor, but with serious public order challenges
Florida Rep. Salazar Backs Conservative Candidate in Sunday's Colombian Election: 'Cannot Afford Another Petrismo Disaster'
"We know that under the Petro administration coca cultivation reached record levels, close to 300,000 hectares," said Salazar in a video on X
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
