Colombia’s first leftist president will take the oath of office on Sunday. He has promised to fight inequality and bring about a significant change in the history of a country ravaged by a prolonged war between the government and guerrilla groups. Gustavo Petro, a former member of Colombia’s M-19 guerrilla group, won the election in June by defeating the Conservatives. Former rebel Petro’s victory is also extraordinary for Colombia because voters in the country did not already support leftist leaders. Left leaders are often accused of being soft on crime or sympathizing with the guerrillas.
Since the 2016 peace deal between the Colombian government and armed groups, voters’ attention has shifted from violent conflicts to problems such as poverty and corruption. Petro, 62, has promised to address Colombia’s social and economic inequalities by increasing spending on poverty alleviation programs and investing in rural areas. He has also said he wants to start peace talks with remaining rebel groups fighting over drug routes, gold mines and other resources.
Gustavo Petro’s promises
Petro also aligned with environmentalists during his presidential campaign and has promised to turn Colombia into a “global powerhouse for life” by taking steps to slow deforestation and reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. The incoming president has said Colombia will stop granting new licenses for oil exploration and ban fracking projects, even though the oil industry makes up about 50 percent of the country’s legal exports.
At least 10 heads of state expected to attend
He plans to finance social spending with a US$10 billion a year tax reform that would boost taxes on the wealthy and remove corporate tax breaks. At least 10 heads of state are expected to attend Petro’s swearing-in, which will take place in a large colonial-era square in front of the Colombian Congress.
Stages with live music and large screens will also be set up in parks in Bogota’s city center so that thousands of citizens can join the celebration without invitation to the main event. This is a big change for Colombia, where previous presidential inaugurations were limited to a few hundred VIP guests.
