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Colombia: Gustavo Petro sworn in as the first left-wing president in the country’s history

Taking the oath in front of hundreds of people on Sunday in Bogota, Gustavo Petro became the first left-wing president in Colombia’s history, after his election on June 19.

This 62-year-old ex-guerrilla succeeds the very unpopular Ivan Duque (2018-2022) at the head of the country for a four-year term which he begins with the support of a left-wing majority in Congress. Colombia is thus placed on a trajectory common to other Latin American countries which are experiencing a left turn.

Legal benefits in exchange for peace

Gustavo Petro notably offered armed groups operating in Colombia “legal advantages” if they signed the peace treaty. “We call on (…) all armed groups to relegate weapons to the nebulae of the past. To accept legal benefits in exchange for peace and in exchange for a definitive end to the violence,” he said.

The peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC, Marxists) in 2016 had certainly reduced the violence, but the country has not yet completely extinguished the continent’s last internal armed conflict.

In addition, other drug trafficking gangs operate in the country. And FARC dissidents are also challenging the state with resources from illegal mining and, above all, drug trafficking.

Failure in the fight against drug trafficking

Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, with the United States as its largest customer. The new Colombian president proposes to rethink the failure of the crop eradication policy, in collaboration with the United States.

The new Head of State also considered that it was “time to have a new international convention which accepts that the war on drugs has failed”, to prefer a “strong policy of prevention of consumption” in the developed nations. “The war on drugs has strengthened the mafias and weakened states,” he added.

Battery of reforms

The former opposition leader, who left armed rebellion three decades ago, takes office with a reform package in mind and is raising hopes among his supporters. In search of resources to finance social reform plans, bills intend to increase taxes on the richest, improve their collection and tax sugary drinks. Despite a growing economy, 10.2% year-on-year inflation in July, unemployment (11.7%) and 39% poverty make the challenges even greater.

On the environmental level, Gustavo Petro proposed the creation of an international fund to protect the Amazon. And on the international scene, the new president will reactivate the diplomatic and trade relations severed since 2019 with neighboring Venezuela of Nicolas Maduro, and seek support to resume peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN), the last recognized guerrillas in the country.

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