By Satyaki Chakraborty
The ruling Left coalition in Colombia headed by the President Gustavo Petro recorded a significant victory in the national elections held on March 8 by getting maximum number of seats in the legislature. The polls held in the background of US President’s war in Iran and continuing spat between Donald Trump and the left wing Colombian President assume special significance for the Left in Colombia as also Latin America in general.
The Left coalition known as Historic Pact (HP) founded by the President Petro won 22.8 per cent of votes in the Senate followed by right wing Democratic Centre’s 15.6 per cent. The Presidential primaries saw the DC candidate Paloma Valencia winning but the Left candidate did not contest in this primary, he will be in the contest on May 31 in the first round, As per constitution, Petro is not allowed to stand for presidency again.
The turnout in the election was notably low, at 48%, but marked a slight increase from the 2022 elections in which 46.4% of those eligible voted. The March 8 elections had all the imprint of Trump as the pro Trump parties campaigned that after Venezuela, Cuba and Colombia are the U.S. targets for regime change. In this tense atmosphere, President Petro led the campaign on the basis of his pro-people programme for improving the living standard of the underprivileged. He also spoke of the need for the Latin American nations to fight for their respective strategic autonomy against the U S intervention in the region’s affairs.
While Petro is constitutionally limited to one term, senator Ivan Cepeda will lead his party’s ticket in the upcoming presidential elections. He was one of two frontrunners who abstained from partaking in primaries in March 8 elections along with hard-right criminal defense attorney and political outsider Abelardo de la Espriella. The left wing Ivan Cepeda faces a bitter fight in the first round of polls and even if he is the front runner, in the second round, if the right wing votes consolidate, the Left may be outnumbered. Cepeda has a good image but he lacks the halo which Gustavo Petro has among then Colombian people. Petro can attract support from non left voters.
In the present senate which was formed after the 2022 elections which made Petro the president, the anti Left coalition candidates are in majority. In the last four years of Petro regime, the right wing members opposed most of the measures introduced by the President. This time after the2026 elections, the left Senate members will go up but the total may not be adequate to outnumber the total number of pro right senators. So the election of the Left wing President Ivan Cepeda is crucial for continuing the pro-people programmes in Colombia.
The disagreements between Mr Petro and Congress date back to the start of his term in 2022, but they heightened as he seeks to consolidate his legacy ahead of May 31 presidential polls.. During his tenure, Petro has improved relations with China and Russia while trying to maintain normal relations with Trump though Columbia was the target of the U.S. President at the initial phase of deportation of illegal immigrants through chained hands
Colombia is nicknamed the “gateway to South America” because it sits in the northwestern part of the continent where South America connects with Central and North America. It is the fifth largest country in Latin America and home to the world’s second largest population of Spanish-speaking people.
Colombia’s biggest trading partner is the United States, which buys 40 percent of the country’s exports. Colombia sends a variety of items overseas, including coffee, bananas, oil, coal, gold, platinum, and emeralds.
One of Colombia’s worst exports, though, is illegal drugs. With help from the United States, the Colombian government is carrying out Plan Colombia, a costly and wide-ranging effort to rid the country of the gangs, called cartels, that produce illegal drugs for sale around the world. The drug is the major issue on which President Trump is charging Columbian President of collusion which Petro has strongly denied.
The Left coalition headed by Petro is making all efforts to improve the economy before May presidential elections. The economy will grow by 2.8% in 2026, and 2.9% in 2027. Investment will resume its gradual and partial recovery as financial conditions ease, but uncertainty will keep it muted. Private consumption will be sustained by lower inflation, a strong labour market and robust remittances. The external sector will contribute less, as oil and mining exports are constrained by domestic production and oil prices, and imports are strong. Inflation is expected to fall but remain above the 3% target through 2027.
One positive aspect of the HP coalition led by Petro is that all other coalition partners including Columbian Communist Party have confidence in Petro’s leadership. In many other countries of Latin America, the factional quarrels harmed the cause of Left but Colombia is free from that. That is the best guarantee which is giving hopes to the HP coalition to fight for their Presidential candidate against all odds in May 31 polls. (IPA Service)
