Domestic optimism about peace talks between Colombia’s government and the country’s largest rebel group, the FARC, has increased significantly since October, a local pollster said Tuesday.
According to Datexco, 39% of Colombians are now optimistic about the outcome of the peace talks against 21% in October.
Similarly, support for President Juan Manuel Santos’ efforts to come to a negotiated end of the country’s almost 50-year-old armed conflict grew from 26% to 43%. The majority of Colombians, 52%, opposes the talks.
The increase approval for the talks coincides with a general increase of Santos’ approval rating that dropped significantly after agrarian protests in August turned violent.
According to Datexco, the president can now count on the approval of 39% of Colombians against 26% in October.