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MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Colombia’s left-wing presidential candidate, Gustavo Petro, could make history in Sunday’s presidential runoff by becoming his country’s first-ever left-wing candidate for the post.
While the polls between Petro and his populist opponent Rodolfo Hernández are razor-thin, a victory for the left will only be the latest of several victories across the continent.
Critics say a socialist victory in Colombia will undo years of sacrifice and efforts to implement and uphold policies of democratic security, respect for liberties, strengthening the rule of law, free trade, greater openness to the world and even a commitment to becoming a becomes an innovation hub and pioneer of the Orange Economy (Creative Economy). They find that all of these milestones, stability and institutions are in jeopardy.
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This photo combination shows Colombian presidential candidates Gustavo Petro (left) on June 17, 2018 and Rodolfo Hernández on June 2, 2022 in Bogota, Colombia. (AP Photos/Martin Mejia, Fernando Vergara, files)
The United States had a strategic ally and a trusted partner in Colombia, the jewel in the crown that some observers say could be at risk in a world that is rapidly reconfiguring itself.
Petro has reportedly sought to differentiate himself from other left-wing leaders across Latin America and has vowed to seek only one term.
“Rest assured that I will not seek re-election,” Petro said, according to The Associated Press, adding that he “will respect the laws.” … Listen carefully, this includes respect for the right to private property.”
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Opponents of Petro say he is not afraid to hide his views and they fear he is threatening to reverse and completely transform Colombia’s reality by joining the socialist agenda of the São Paulo Forum, an organization of left-wing politicians on the continent , adjoins the Caribbean.
They fear that close ties with Venezuela, Russia and China, or allies like Iran, could spread its malign influence across the region from there.
Maria Clara Escobar, executive director of the Instituto de Ciencia Política (ICP), told Fox News Digital: “A petro-government represents an opportunity for the Latin American left to consolidate a regional bloc with the ability to influence at the geopolitical level, to achieve this, a change in the international order by legitimizing the region’s dictatorships, facilitating the penetration of authoritarian regimes such as Russia, China and Iran, weakening the inter-American institutional framework (Organization of American States) and creating new regional political and diplomatic blocs , from which they will support the weakening of regional democracy and the rule of law.”
A woman cleans the capital’s main election center in preparation for the presidential runoff in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, June 17, 2022. Sunday’s runoff is between the man who could become the first leftist to lead the nation and a populist millionaire , who promises to end corruption. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
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With the onset of the COVID pandemic, commentators say anti-establishment sentiment has grown in Latin America due to a lack of inclusive growth and prosperity. The economic and political impact of COVID-19 has created uneasiness and frustration among the people, which Petro and other politicians have taken advantage of.
But while Petro won the first round comfortably, the polls have grown much tighter in recent weeks as his challenger Rodolfo Hernández, whom some in the media are calling Colombia’s answer to Donald Trump, has reduced Petro’s lead to a statistical tie and now all has chances of winning.
The multimillionaire businessman became a social media phenomenon, positioning himself among those who dismiss politics as normal. And to the surprise of many, he finished second last month, beating the establishment conservative candidate.
Still, Hernández has held mixed positions and is widely viewed as a populist candidate. At 77, he’s a former mayor who made his living from farming and real estate and said he wants to fight corruption and wasteful spending.
Still others say he has more in common with Mexican President López Obrador (AMLO) than with Petro. This worries some Colombians as Petro poses a bigger threat to them. Rodolfo, as he is known, is not considered all that different.
Some media outlets have compared populist candidate Rodolfo Hernández to former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
Hernández is not affiliated with either political party, and his campaign to become president benefited greatly from his use of social media, where most of his campaign was reportedly waged.
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Rodolfo has echoed AMLO’s slogans such as “Don’t steal, don’t lie and don’t betray… There can’t be a rich government with poor people.”
And Rodolfo does not hide his admiration for the Mexican president, who in turn openly supports Petro.
Observers believe that while the election is far from ideal, a Petro presidency will be problematic for the US
Colombian Senator Paola Holguin, a member of the conservative Centro Democratico party, told Fox News Digital: “Rodolfo is an engineer and businessman from Bucaramanga who has achieved good results during his tenure as mayor; only guarantee for the preservation of democracy, freedom and (the institutions).
“Its main flags are austerity measures and the fight against corruption. On the other hand, Gustavo Petro is an amnestied former M-19 guerrilla, former mayor of Bogotá with a questionable administration, who has received support from criminal structures such as ELN, FARC and Clan del Golfo (and) can be defined as a radical left-wing populist, who was close to the leaders of the São Paulo Forum and the Puebla Group.”
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Analysts fear the United States could lose a major hemisphere ally if Petro wins and witness the continued growing influence of Russia, China and Iran among its closest neighbors.
Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s President, delivers a State of the Union address at the National Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela on January 15, 2022. (Gaby Oraa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The growing triumphal wave of the left in Latin America runs from Mexico through Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, Chile and Argentina. After Colombia, Brazil could be the next domino to fall to the left, judging by early polls in Brazil for the upcoming October presidential election.
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Commentators say the stakes are high in Sunday’s election.
“No Colombian president will be able to break this alliance that easily,” said Joseph Humire, executive director of the Center for a Secure Free Society. “Gustavo Petro may try if he is elected, but like Hugo Chávez in Venezuela, it will take him more than four years to radically recalibrate Colombia’s foreign policy. Colombia shares with the United States more than just government policies, we share culture.”
Whoever wins on Sunday, Colombian presidential politics will change drastically, and Washington must adapt and prepare whatever the outcome.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.