06/18/2022 21:30 (act. 06/18/2022 21:30)
Millionaire Hernandez wants to ensure conservative supremacy in Colombia ©APA/AFP
Colombians will elect a new president on Sunday. Former guerrilla Gustavo Petro and multimillionaire real estate entrepreneur Rodolfo Hernández face off in the second round. Petro was considered a favorite, but has recently faced surprisingly strong competition from the previously unknown Hernández. The race is now completely open, in the most recent polls both candidates are on equal footing.
The challenges for the future head of state are great: the second most populous country in South America, with around 50 million inhabitants, is suffering the economic consequences of the corona pandemic, great social injustice and violence. The current Conservative government implemented the peace treaty with the FARC rebels only halfheartedly.
Petro wants to pacify the country, slow down the exploitation of raw materials, promote tourism and tax companies more. This could also have consequences for Germany, which wants to import more coal from Colombia in the future because of sanctions against Russia.
Little is known about Hernández’s plans. He wants to act against corruption, even though he himself is being investigated for corruption. He also suggested giving drugs to addicts for free. In a country plagued by drug cartel violence for decades, this isn’t exactly a popular proposition.