By Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, WOLA Director for the Andes
Colombia’s upcoming presidential elections on May 29 are taking place at a time of great tension, rising insecurity, economic challenges, polarization, and distrust in government.
There are seven tickets running for the top office. Candidates currently leading the polls include former Bogotá Mayor Gustavo Petro, for the Historic Pact (Pacto Histórico) leftist coalition; former Medellín Mayor and conservative candidate Federico Gutiérrez, known as ”Fico”, for the conservative Team for Colombia (Equipo por Colombia); former Bucaramanga Mayor and independent candidate Rodolfo Hernández; and Liberal candidate Sergio Fajardo, representing the Center Hope Coalition (Coalición Centro Esperanza).
If none of the contenders secure fifty plus one votes, the two candidates with the most votes will go to a second round on June 19.
These elections also mark the first time a socially-progressive candidate, Gustavo Petro, in a country ruled by the right and moderates for decades, has the possibility of winning the presidency.
This is an overview of some of the main human rights and security challenges facing Colombia that the next President will need to address, and how U.S. policymakers can support them in doing so.
