Latest editorial
People hold posters in support of Colombia's President Gustavo Petro during a rally backing his proposed reforms at the Bolivar Square in Bogota, Colombia, September 19, 2024
COLOMBIA’S first left-wing government is battling to deliver reforms and peace in the teeth of entrenched opposition from the ruling class, Labour delegates heard on Tuesday evening.
Visiting Colombian Congressman Alirio Uribe described the ambitious social projects of the Gustavo Petro administration, including redistribution of land to poor farmers, lifting 1.6 million people out if extreme poverty and rolling out public healthcare.
Above all it was committed to a complex peace process, not just involving rehabilitating former guerillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), which disarmed in 2017, but ongoing talks with left-wing militias which are still fighting (like the ELN) and right-wing paramilitary and mafia groups such as the Gulf Clan.
With Petro, Colombia has been making huge strides towards peace — but is all that at risk with the elections next year? MARK ROWE reports back after joining a delegation to the Latin American country
