ASSESSMENTS

Left Turn Ahead: How a New President Could Shake Up Colombia

Mar 12, 2018 | 15:11 GMT

Current Colombian presidential candidate Gustavo Petro speaks with journalists in 2010.

Current Colombian presidential candidate Gustavo Petro speaks with journalists in 2010. In recent years, political fragmentation has opened a new path for left-leaning politicians such as Petro. 

(GUILLERMO LEGARIA/AFP/Getty Images)

Highlights

  • After years of marginalization, Colombia's political left will have a good opportunity to reach the runoff election for Colombia's presidency in June.
  • If the far-left candidate Gustavo Petro secures the executive office, he may initially withhold Colombian support for heavier U.S. sanctions against Venezuela, but the impact of Venezuela's migration crisis on Colombia would push his government to adopt a harder line against Caracas.
  • A Petro presidency would likely lead to stricter environmental regulations and heftier fines for energy and mining operations in Colombia.

Colombians largely backed the center-right when they cast ballots in the country's presidential primary and legislative elections on March 11, but the rapidly approaching presidential elections in May and June promise to be an entirely different ball game. Colombia's heavily fragmented political scene leaves the door open for an outsider to claim the country's highest office. Recent polling suggests the far-left Gustavo Petro, the pro-environment center-left Sergio Fajardo and the conservative Ivan Duque all stand a good chance of reaching a runoff vote on June 17. And though the country may be too politically divided for any president to corral congressional votes in support of controversial initiatives, a leftist president would have much greater leeway on foreign policy than domestic legislation, meaning a frontrunner like Petro could blunt Colombia's support for heavier U.S. sanctions against Venezuela and threaten new investments in energy and mining....

Keep Reading

Register to read three free articles

Proceed to sign up

Register Now

Already have an account?

Sign In