Colombians go to the polls on Sunday to vote for they next The president chooses between six candidates who every promise various grades of Change as the country struggles with rising Inequality, inflation and violence.
Include poll former Rebel Gustavo Petro, who It was leading in Opinion polls can become Colombia first Left President. But the polls also show his fault of the 50% of votes Necessary for win in The first round And the avoid Runoff against The second-place finisher.
Behind him is a populist man real Real estate tycoon prepared cash rewards for Tips on Corrupt officials and a right-wing candidate who try to distance Himself widely hated conservative current President Evan Duque.
This is the second Presidential elections since government signed a peace agreement with Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC, but the contentious agreement was not central campaign issue As is the case like Poverty and corruption happened more Attention.
This is Petro’s third bid for the presidency of the South American country. he was defeated in 2018 by Duque, who not qualified for Re-election.
His victory will be a sign in a new political age in A country that has always been ruled by conservatives or moderates while they were marginalized left Because of its perceived connection with Armed conflict in the country. He was once a rebel with The now defunct M-19 movement has been awarded amnesty after being imprisoned for Share it with The group.
He promised to make major adjustments to economyincluding tax reform, as well changes to me how Colombia fights drug cartels and other armed groups. for him main Competition for bone of The campaign It was Federico Gutierrez, a former mayor of Medellin who powered by most of Colombia traditional And I ran the parties on supporter of business, economics growth a program.
Gutierrez promised fight hunger with Extension of subsidies and public-private Alliances so that the food that goes to waste is directed for the poorest.
A Gallup poll conducted earlier this month showed that 75% of Colombians think the country is heading in The wrong direction And only 27% agree of Duki. reconnaissance last year by Gallup found 60% of Those who were questioned found it hard to get a side on their income.
Corona virus pandemic set back Anti-poverty efforts in the country for at least a decade. Official figures showed that 39% of 51.6 million people live in Colombia on Under $89 a month last yearwho has slight improvement from 42.5% rate from 2020.
Meanwhile, the country’s inflation rate has reached its level highest level in two decades last Month. Doki’s management justified 9.2% in April rate for April by saying it’s part of a global Inflationary phenomenon, but the argument did not subside resentment over Increase in food prices.
In addition to economic challengesColombia next will the chief also ought to face complex security issue Corruption, a major concern of voters.
Red Cross last year Colombia has arrived highest level of hnf in The last five years. Although the peace agreement with The FARC, the territory and drug trafficking routes that it previously controlled, have been implemented in Disagreement between other armed groups such as the National Liberation Army, or the National Liberation Army, and guerrilla warfare group was established in 1960s, FARC defectors and the Gulf Tribe Cartel.
Duque’s successor will have to decide whether to resume peace talks with National Liberation Army, who hung in 2019 after attack killing more from 20 people.
Aware of voter corruption concerns real Real estate mogul Rodolfo Hernandez وضع issue in the center of for him campaign. Hernandez former mayor of Bucaramanga rose surprisingly in The final stretch of The campaign After promising to “clean up” the country of Corruption and donating his salary.
The other candidates on Ballot paper Sergio Fajardo, former mayor of Medellin and filter for Center coalition; Christian leader John Milton Rodriguez, and conservative Enrique Gomez.
