Gustavo Petro’s path to power had seemed clear. But the rise of Rodolfo Hernández has complicated matters
of the past century, Colombia was immune to the shifting tides of Latin American politics. During the 1960s and 1970s, when right-wing military dictatorships took power across the region, it had a restricted democracy in which two parties, the Liberals and Conservatives, agreed to share power every four years.
One of the few things that Mr Petro and Mr Hernández have in common is that they were lousy mayors. Both were suspended from office. Mr Petro, who ran Bogotá, the capital, from 2012 to 2015, was briefly removed in March 2014 after mishandling the municipal takeover of a private rubbish-collection service. He was reinstated a month later when the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that his dismissal had been unfair.
Mr Petro’s programme is more grandiose. While he also wants to increase tariffs and renegotiate trade deals, he plans to increase tax collection by 5.5% of GDP over four years, through pension reform and by clamping down on tax exemptions. An enthusiastic climate activist, he would ban new licences for oil exploration, although crude oil and minerals account for more than half of Colombia’s exports.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A moment that changed me: I played professional basketball, until I broke my eye socket – and came to my sensesI was putting off adulthood by trying my luck as an athlete. But when I was hit in the face I had a realisation
Read more »
Top Gun: Maverick director faced big Tom Cruise obstacle before making filmTop Gun: Maverick director shares the big Tom Cruise obstacle he faced before making film
Read more »
Car bomb blast signals start of guerilla warfare🔴Three people have been injured in a car bombing in the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine
Read more »
Tiffany Watson shows off stunning wedding ring as she jets off on honeymoonMade in Chelsea star Tiffany Watson shared a snap of her gorgeous diamond wedding ring as she jetted off on honeymoon with her new footballer husband Cameron McGeehan
Read more »