Peace talks with Colombia’s EMC guerrillas to begin...
Human rights prosecutors attacked in northern Colombia
Colombia’s judicial branch thrown offline in major cyber...
7 years into peace process, Colombia has strategy...
Colombia’s estimated cocaine production reaches new record high
Colombia’s president wants end to sanctions on Venezuela
Colombia’s ranchers federation threatens to mobilize over land...
Court orders arrest of Colombia’s former Congress president
Colombia’s intelligence agency assassinated presidential candidate: prosecution
Colombia’s former army chief indicted for 130 extrajudicial...
  • About
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
Alejandro Gaviria (Image: Twitter)
Elections

Reinforcement for Colombia’s liberal elite in 2022 elections race

by Adriaan Alsema September 2, 2021
2.6K

Colombia’s liberal elite increased its chances in the 2022 elections after former Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria joined the presidential race.

Gaviria announced on Monday he would join a growing number of moderate candidates who are hoping to win next year’s presidential elections.

The influential liberal is a formidable candidate whose presidential bid is likely to impact congressional elections that will be held first.

Changes in the presidential elections

Gustavo Petro (Image: Wikipedia)

Gaviria’s main rival in next year’s presidential vote will likely be opposition Senator Gustavo Petro, who was defeated by President Ivan Duque in the second round of the 2018 vote.

Unprecedented disapproval of the authoritarian president and Duque’s political patron, former President Alvaro Uribe, have made a conservative victory in 2022 highly unlikely.

Duque’s approval rating

Former Medellin Mayor Sergio Fajardo almost made it to the second round in 2018, but the “extreme centrist” has performed poorly in preliminary polls.

Gaviria may be a more viable candidate as the Bogota politician can count on the capital’s liberal establishment, which believes Petro leans too far to to the left.

Gaviria’s progressive side

  • Outspoken atheist
  • Pro-abortion

Gaviria’s conservative side

  • Traditional elitist
  • Neoliberal

Gaviria’s impact on the congressional vote

Former President Alvaro Uribe and his congressional allies. (Image: Senate)

Before electing their new president, Colombia’s voters will first take to the polls in March to elect a new Congress.

Uribe’s Democratic Center party and coalition partners are likely to receive an electoral beating.

This does not imply that Petro’s “Historic Pact” will be able to obtain a majority in Congress, however.

The first-time participation of young voters may benefit the progressives, but is unlikely to change Colombia’s largely moderate electorate.

Voters who consider abandoning the “Uribista” ship will be courted by multiple parties and their presidential candidates.

Colombia’s moderate parties

Gaviria and the other moderates will first use their presidential bid to endorse their allies running for Congress.

Once that is decided, Colombia’s political forces will decide who to endorse for the presidency.

2022 electionsAlejandro Gavirianewsletter

Contribute

Trending

  • Colombia’s judicial branch thrown offline in major cyber attack

  • Human rights prosecutors attacked in northern Colombia

  • Peace talks with Colombia’s EMC guerrillas to begin in October

For patrons

Downloads for patrons

Related articles

  • Drug trafficking group infiltrated party of Colombia’s president

  • The devastating charges against the son of Colombia’s president

  • Petro sacks three ministers ahead of Colombia’s local elections

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Rss

@2008-2019 - Colombia Reports. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Digitale Zaken and Parrolabs


Back To Top
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion