Colombia Holds Presidential Election Amid Rising Crime and Political Polarization
Colombia is holding a presidential election featuring 14 candidates, though the race has narrowed to three primary contenders. With President Petro barred by the constitution from seeking reelection, the vote has become a stark contest between left-wing and right-wing visions for the country's future. A flamboyant criminal lawyer has emerged as a leading right-wing figure, campaigning on a platform of machismo and a hardline crackdown on crime. The election takes place against a backdrop of resurgent organized crime and political violence, with reports of voter intimidation in rural areas. Beyond security, voters are weighing the cost of living and the impact of recent minimum wage hikes. While the left is represented by figures like Senator Iván Cepeda, analysts suggest the right may…
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Crime isn't the only issue bringing people to the polls. Business owners who absorbed the biggest minimum wage shock in decades are waiting to see if a new government will reverse or increase it. Voting security is also an area of concern, with observers documenting instances of voter intimidation by armed groups in rural areas. Last year, Colombia's most powerful drug lord directly threatened violence ahead of this year's election...
‘Opposite visions’: What to know about Colombia’s presidential election | Elections News | Al Jazeera
Fourteen candidates will be on ... election. The packed field includes contenders from the left, right and centre, who are slated to face off over issues like security and the cost of living. But Petro will not be among them: Presidents in Colombia are limited to a single four-year term. The right wing is expected to have the advantage, particularly if the race proceeds to a second round. Petro is struggling with low poll numbers, and voters have expressed frustration with crime and violence, ...
PIEDECUESTA, Colombia – One of the main candidates in Colombia's first-round presidential election on Sunday is a combative criminal lawyer who flaunts his wealth and machismo, stars in his own music videos, and is promising a crackdown on crime.
There will be 14 candidates on the ballot, but the election has basically turned into a three-horse race. Colombia’s constitution bars Petro from seeking reelection. His party, the Historical Pact, will be represented by Iván Cepeda, 63, a three-term senator known for defending the victims of state crimes ...
The election comes amid rising ... climate. Manuel Rueda reports from Bogota. ... It was heartbreak for Arsenal after they lost their Champions League final to PSG in Budapest. The match went to a penalty shootout but a Gabriel Magalhaes miss cost the English champions. #arsenal #championsleague... ... Ebola is spreading and women — the mothers, caregivers, and nurses — are among the hardest hit, often working on the frontlines without protective gear. For more news go to: Follow ...
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