Comment on Gustavo Petro Taking Oath as Colombia President in Historic Shift

MANUEL RUEDA / AP, Time
Sun, 08/07/2022 - 11:51am

Gustavo Petro Taking Oath as Colombia President in Historic Shift

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s first leftist president will be sworn into office Sunday, promising to fight inequality and heralding a turning point in the history of a country haunted by a long war between the government and guerrilla groups. Sen. Gustavo Petro, a former member of Colombia’s M-19 guerrilla group, won the presidential election in June by beating conservative parties that offered moderate changes to the market-friendly economy, but failed to connect with voters frustrated by rising poverty and violence against human rights leaders and environmental groups in rural areas. Petro is part of a growing group of leftist politicians and political outsiders who have been winning elections in Latin America since the pandemic broke out and hurt incumbents who struggled with its economic aftershocks. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The ex-rebel’s victory was also exceptional for Colombia, where voters had been historically reluctant to back leftist politicians who were often accused of being soft on crime or allied with guerrillas. A 2016 peace deal between Colombia’s government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia turned much of the focus of voters away from the violent conflicts playing out in rural areas and gave prominence to problems like poverty and corruption, fueling the popularity of leftist parties in national elections. Petro, 62, has promised to tackle Colombia’s social and economic inequalities by boosting spending on anti-poverty programs and increasing investment in rural areas.

 

Comment On This Story

Welcome to Wopular!

Welcome to Wopular

Wopular is an online newspaper rack, giving you a summary view of the top headlines from the top news sites.

Senh Duong (Founder)
Wopular, MWB, RottenTomatoes

Subscribe to Wopular's RSS Fan Wopular on Facebook Follow Wopular on Twitter Follow Wopular on Google Plus

MoviesWithButter : Our Sister Site

Movies With Butter More Movie News

More News

  • How King Charles Will Mark His Return to Public-Facing Duties in a Meaningful Way
    Time, Friday - 04/26/2024 - 01:02 PM

    King Charles III is set to visit a cancer treatment center with his wife, Queen Camilla, on Tuesday to mark his return to public-facing duties after receiving treatment and recuperating following his cancer diagnosis, Buckingham Palace said Friday. The Palace announced in February that the King, 75, had been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Zendaya Is a Powerhouse, But Challengers Belongs to Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist
    Time, Friday - 04/26/2024 - 11:13 AM

    The strapping grandeur of Myron’s Discobolus notwithstanding, it’s weirdly taboo to acknowledge the sensual appeal of athletes. Somehow we’re not supposed to notice the sassy-tight buns of football players in their tiny stretch pants, or the easy bedroom drawl of a basketball player’s limbs. The message seems to be, Sports are serious business!

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Breaking Down the Bonkers But Perfect End of Challengers
    Time, Friday - 04/26/2024 - 10:36 AM

    Warning: This post contains spoilers for Challengers. What is it about tennis that reminds directors of sex? Is it the fact that, unlike swimming or golf, the player must look across the net directly at their opponent? Is it the sheer athleticism on display? Is it the obvious love pun in the scoring?

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Frozen Chicken Will Soon Get a Lot Safer to Eat
    Time, Friday - 04/26/2024 - 09:56 AM

    Poultry producers will be required to bring salmonella bacteria in certain chicken products to very low levels to help prevent food poisoning under a final rule issued Friday by U. S. agriculture officials. When the regulation takes effect in 2025, salmonella will be considered an adulterant—a contaminant that can cause foodborne illness—when it is detected above certain levels in frozen breaded and stuffed raw chicken products.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Bird Flu Virus Is in One in Five U.S. Milk Samples
    Time, Friday - 04/26/2024 - 09:45 AM

    Fragments of the bird flu virus have been found in about one fifth of commercial milk samples tested in a U. S. nationally representative study, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While the presence of traces of the virus in milk doesn’t necessarily indicate a risk to consumers, more tests are needed to confirm if intact pathogen is present and remains infectious, the FDA said in a statement on its website.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • A road trip to Oklahoma, the path of totality, and making family memories
    Denver Post, Friday - 04/26/2024 - 07:59 AM

    We had expected that seeing a total solar eclipse in the path of totality would be the highlight of our trip. In hindsight, it was also the perfect excuse to be together, three generations on a simple road trip through five states. On April 6, three of us set out from Lakewood — me, my 23-year-old son Ryan and 85-year-old mother, Mary — toward Oklahoma, near the Texas and Arkansas borders.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share