Elections Observers denied Entry to Colombia

WTF is Going on in Latin America & The Caribbean

Todays’ episode: Elections Observers denied entry to Colombia

Co-Host: CODEPINK Latin America policy expert Leonardo Flores.

Guest: Nestor Cristancho of Canal 2, Cali, Colombia

On Sunday, May 29 Colombians will vote for President. The election comes at a difficult moment for the country. Polls show widespread dissatisfaction with the government of the current president, Ivan Duque and frustration over chronic poverty, a widening income gap and insecurity, all of which have worsened during the pandemic.

Among those hurt the most by these problems are younger Colombians, who are likely to play a big role in determining whether or not the country takes a step to the left.

Young people led anti-government protests that filled the streets of Colombia last year, dominating the national conversation for weeks. At least 46 people died — many of them young, unarmed protesters and many at the hands of the police — in what became referred to as the “national strike.” or Paro Nacional

Some analysts expect young people to vote in record numbers, energized not just by the Pacto Historico presidential candidate Gustavo Petro, but also by his running mate, Francia Márquez, a 40 year old environmental activist with a gender, race and class-conscious focus who would be the country’s first Black vice president.

Additional Links:

Colombia Erupts against Neoliberalism

Colombia Protesting Neoliberalism

Election Primaries move Colombia Left

In partnership with Friends of Latin America, Massachusetts Peace Action and Task Force on the Americas, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on CODEPINK YouTube Live