Main content

From rebel to president: Colombia’s new leftist leader

Gustavo Petro has big plans to reform the economy, the war on drugs and relations with Colombia’s neighbours and allies - including the US.

Colombia this week elected a former rebel as its first left-wing president. Gustavo Petro’s win on Sunday represents a rejection of the establishment in a country facing strong economic headwinds, high levels of inequality, and continuing gang violence fuelled by the cocaine trade. Mr Petro and his running mate Francia Márquez - who will become the country’s first black vice-president - plan to reform taxes, phase out new oil exploration projects, and rethink the war on drugs. Colombia has long been a close partner to the United States in the region, recently designated by Washington as “a major non-NATO ally”. The new leadership team in Bogotá want to take a fresh look at trade relations with both the US and Venezuela. So, who is Gustavo Petro and what does he stand for? What will his historic win mean for Colombia’s place in the region and the world? And can the new president deliver on his promise of sweeping change without control of the country’s congress? Ritula Shah is joined by a panel of expert guests.

Ritula Shah with a panel of guests.
Producers: Rozita Riazati and Paul Schuster.

Available now

49 minutes

Last on

Sat 25 Jun 2022 14:06GMT

Contributors

Catalina Lobo-Guerrero - Colombian journalist and author based in Cali

Oscar Guardiola-Rivera - Colombian author and academic at the University of London

Adam Isacson - American expert on security and peacebuilding in Latin America at the Washington DC-based organisation WOLA

Image

President-elect of Colombia Gustavo Petro (L) celebrates with his vice presidential candidate Francia Márquez (R) in Bogota, Colombia, 19 June 2022 - Credit: EPA / Mauricio Duenas Castaneda

Broadcasts

  • Fri 24 Jun 2022 09:06GMT
  • Fri 24 Jun 2022 23:06GMT
  • Sat 25 Jun 2022 03:06GMT
  • Sat 25 Jun 2022 14:06GMT

The Real Story Podcast

Subscribe via your favourite podcast app...

Podcast