Colombians cautiously optimistic ahead of leftist Petro's inauguration
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Loading... - Gasira Omwenga
- 05 Aug 2022
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Colombians are expressing cautious optimism about the government of incoming leftist President Gustavo Petro, days before he takes office on promises to reshape the polarized country with a raft of reforms and social programs.
Petro, a former member of the M-19 guerrillas and erstwhile senator, will on Sunday become the first leftist to govern Colombia, which has historically elected centrist and right-wing leaders.
Petro has pledged to fight inequality with free university education and pension reform, reopen relations with neighboring Venezuela, fully implement a 2016 peace deal with the Marxist FARC rebels, and seek deals with remaining armed groups.
"We've never been governed by the left," said bus driver Hernan Vargas, 55, in the southeastern Bogota neighborhood of El Rocio. "There's a lot of hope."
Many people in this working-class hillside district, with views down to the presidential palace and congress, said they voted for Petro and approve of his record as the capital's mayor.
"I know with him we'll have a new Colombia," said potter Jorge Eliecer Alegria, 40, who cares for his ill mother and hopes for improvements to the overtaxed healthcare system. Read More…
