We Don’t Talk About Colombia
Who’s who and what’s at stake in the upcoming election.
For the first time in a long while, Colombia will likely see political change. There are lots of intricacies in the election set to be held on May 29, but the competition is basically set between the two frontrunners of the March primary, Gustavo Petro and Federico “Fico” Gutiérrez.
While Petro is a former M-19 guerrilla member and the candidate of the progressive Pacto Histórico coalition, Gutiérrez’s candidacy has been cautiously embraced by the conservatives, under the leadership of influential former president Álvaro Uribe.
This election marks a difference from Colombia’s past, given that Petro is clearly ahead of Fico in the polls. It’s the first time since Uribe took over in 2002 that he might lose his shadow power, and the first time a progressive candidate could have a real shot at changing the country’s fate.
What’s Wrong with Continuity?
The first thing you need to understand about Colombia is that it’s a country at war. Colombia’s internal turmoil has been a major theme in the country’s political reality for decades, and there are many groups battling for power and money, mainly drug cartels, guerrillas and paramilitary groups.
