The left reaches the government in Colombia for the first time with Gustavo Petro

The first man from the left to become president of Colombia was sworn in today, promising to fight against inequality in a ceremony that marks a turning point in the history of this country marked by a long war between the government and guerrilla groups.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
07 August 2022 Sunday 16:49
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The left reaches the government in Colombia for the first time with Gustavo Petro

The first man from the left to become president of Colombia was sworn in today, promising to fight against inequality in a ceremony that marks a turning point in the history of this country marked by a long war between the government and guerrilla groups.

Gustavo Petro, a former member of the M-19 guerrillas, won the presidential election in June by beating a right-wing populist and builder who promised more market freedom but ran up against voters frustrated by rising poverty and violence against leaders of human rights organizations and environmental groups in rural areas.

Petro is part of a growing group of politicians from the left who have won elections in Latin America since the pandemic and defeated the traditional parties. The former guerrilla's victory is also exceptional for Colombia, where voters have historically been reluctant to support leftist parties, which were accused of being soft on crime or associated with guerrillas.

The start in 2016 of the peace process between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) changed this scenario by shifting the focus of voters away from daily violence and bringing poverty to the forefront. rural areas and the corruption of the political system.

Petro has promised to fight inequalities and has described the policies against drug trafficking and clandestine coca plantations of the Americans as a failure. Petro has indicated that she would like to work with the United States as equals.