Colombia's Presidential Election Results: 2022

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

At a time of great social unrest and efforts to overcome the ongoing covid challenges, millions of Colombians went to the polls today in a presidential election.

Visit this thread for updates on the election results after the polls close this evening.

See also

Emergency services in Colombia - Guide
Colombia's 'Permanent' Protests - 20 Replies
Popular Visas to Live in Colombia, 2022 - 77 Replies
Inflation in Colombia in 2022 - 10 Replies
Cost of living in Colombia in 2022 - 16 Replies
Ways to Stay Safe During Colombia's Current Era of Instability - 1 Reply
Colombia's most expensive cities - 4 Replies

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

5:59 p.m.

Colombia appears headed to runoff presidential election

in June.

From The New York Times:

"Two anti-establishment candidates, Gustav Petro, a leftist, and

Rodolfo Hernández, a right-wing populist, captured the top

two spots in Colombia's presidential election on Sunday,

delivering a stunning blow to Colombia's dominant conservative

political class.

"If the results hold, the two men will compete in a runoff election

on June 19 that is shaping up to be one of the most consequential

in the country's history. At stake is the country's economic model,

its democratic integrity and the livelihoods of millions of people

pushed into poverty during the pandemic."

-- nytimes.com

OsageArcher Colombia Expert

1660POSTS

3 years ago

The analysis of many Colombians including my family, is that this assures a win for Hernández in the runoff.

Gustavo Petro got a bit over 40% of the vote. Hernández about 28%, Federico "Fico" Gutiérrez about 24% -together they total over 50%. Hernández voters will not vote for Petro in the runoff. And it is almost impossible that any of Fico's voters will vote for Petro - they will vote for Hernández, and so will many Petro defectors.

So in this view Hernández should win handily. But the voting patterns are still troubling, as shown by this article and map:

https://www.elespectador.com/politica/e … denciales/

It is worrisome to see that Petro's voters are the largest single block of any of the candidates, and that he got the most votes in many departamentos, especially the coasts and the Amazon. The promises of socialism are still very attractive to far too many Colombians in spite of the fate of their next-door neighbor Venezuela, and the fate of people in other socialist regimes around the world.

1 member reacted to this post

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

98 percent of the vote reported.

That 98 percent is contained in a report by CNN .. and the numbers showing Petro with a first-round lead confirm the percentages Brother Archer stated a bit earlier this evening.

The runoff is triggered by the fact that no individual candidate received more than half the votes.

cccmedia

mtbe Contributor

195POSTS

3 years ago

5:59 p.m.

Colombia appears headed to runoff presidential election
in June.

From The New York Times:

"Two anti-establishment candidates, Gustav Petro, a leftist, and
Rodolfo Hernández, a right-wing populist, captured the top
two spots in Colombia's presidential election on Sunday,
delivering a stunning blow to Colombia's dominant conservative
political class.

"If the results hold, the two men will compete in a runoff election
on June 19 that is shaping up to be one of the most consequential
in the country's history. At stake is the country's economic model,
its democratic integrity and the livelihoods of millions of people
pushed into poverty during the pandemic."

-- nytimes.com
- @cccmedia

Interesting that NYT only describes Petro as 'Leftist', but Rodolfo as 'Right Wing Populist'. I noticed that in all the US publications that Petro was described as a "Rebel", instead of Guerilla or Terrorist....

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

9:40 p.m.

Coalition support against Petro.

Fico Gutiérrez, the third-place candidate who missed the cut for the runoff election, has conceded defeat.

Gutierrez says he supports Rodolfo Hernández, the second-place finisher in today's Round 1, heading toward the runoff against Petro.

Source... colombiareports.com

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

Headlines and sub-head in The Washington Post.

Ex-rebel, businessman to vie in Colombia presidential runoff ...

Colombian voters have opted for a dramatic change

in presidential politics, choosing a leftist former rebel

and an outsider populist businessman to advance to

a runoff election in June.

----

(ensuing article in the Post reported by Associated Press)

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

11:52 p.m.

Reuters take.

...Petro, a former member of the M-19 guerrilla movement

who has vowed profound economic and social change,

took 40.4 % of votes, national registry office tallies showed,

while Hernández, who made late gains against

predicted second-round candidate Gutiérrez, won 27.9 %.

-- reuters.com

Laker4115 Serial expat

217POSTS

3 years ago

Colombia has taken one more step toward having a communist government. I hate to see this happen and hope Colombians will come to their senses on this June 19th.

mtbe Contributor

195POSTS

3 years ago

#10

Yes, they'll come to their senses. Petro didn't win any more votes than last time. Fico has asked his supporters to vote for Rodolpho. 11+ Million votes for Rodolpho and Fico...to Petro's 9.5 Million. Petro will loose some support as people want to be seen voting for a 'winner'. I'm sure some of Fico's supporters may vote for Petro...but a very few...probably not even 100k.

Petro has said this is his last time. Let's hope he keeps his promise.

The Petro fanatics are already switching their attach from Fico to Rodolpho...now calling Rodolpho the 'Urbiste' candidate, and machoistic, and xenophobic... and even comparing him to Trump.

1 member reacted to this post

CaliRay Contributor

193POSTS

3 years ago

#11

I guess it's asking too much of some to look to their neighbor Venezuela and to their own streets to the 10s of thousands of Venezuelian refugees fleeing from the kind of government that Gustav Petro is offering when considering for whom to vote.

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

#12

Vaya! It's presidential election time again on Sunday.

Recent polls show the 2022 runoff candidates Petro and Hernández virtually tied, according to The Guardian in an article published online at cuencahighlife.com ...

Check back at this Colombia Forum on Sunday night for reports on Colombia's final decision as to who will lead the country for the next four years.

Laker4115 Serial expat

217POSTS

3 years ago

#13

If the Communists win or lose the streets could be dangerous Sunday night and next week. If you look like a gringo, it is time to get your food supplies and plan which Netflix series you want to watch next week.

LawrenceGlickman New member

5POSTS

3 years ago

#14

Once again a young group of young kids are getting sucked into yet another communist plot with a load of false promises they think will be a "Gold Mine" and a new egalitarian way of life. They will soon find out that it's just another version of Maduro. That will bring down Colombia, just when Colombia is learning how to attract a lot of opportunities.

Laker4115 Serial expat

217POSTS

3 years ago

#15

The Marxists are doing a great job of making Miami the richest Latin American city.

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

#16

Any prediction that -- regardless of who wins -- Gringos are in heightened danger next week in the streets of La República .. is unfounded speculation. It's just your opinion, man.

cccmedia

Laker4115 Serial expat

217POSTS

3 years ago

#17

@cccmedia Are personal opinions allowed on your site?

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

#18

Yes, Laker, they are -- including my assessment that doomsday predictions are mere speculation.

cccmedia

1 member reacted to this post

Laker4115 Serial expat

217POSTS

3 years ago

#19

I never made a doomsday prediction, I just said be prepared for potential problems, that is simply common sense. Communists have their own particular way of celebrating win or lose.

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

#20

Petro is a leftist; right-wingers have characterized him as a Communist. That is not what he calls himself. Any poster who claims that newly-elected "Communists" would cause the value of the national currency to start boomeranging is guessing.

---

With regard to two earlier posts by one individual: Warning Expats and people who look like Expats to hole up in their homes pandemic-style with sufficient food and a Netflix subscription is not the same as "be prepared for problems, that is simply common sense."

cccmedia

Laker4115 Serial expat

217POSTS

3 years ago

#21

@cccmedia See I am old enough to remember Fidel Castro's interview with the New York Times swearing he was not a communist. Most people believed him until he brought out the firing squads and put them on television killing people involved with the Batista government. I don't think Petro will do that but you never know when communists are involved.

mtbe Contributor

195POSTS

3 years ago

#22

Don't need to predict what will happen if Petro loses...

They've already said what they will do...

https://www.lapatilla.com/2022/06/06/la … -colombia/

https://www.colombia.com/actualidad/nac … tro-355419

While not specifically aimed at Gringos, the suggestion to buy your groceries and gas, stay indoors and make sure your Netflix is paid up...is valid.

mtbe Contributor

195POSTS

3 years ago

#23

They've called it for Petro... Just like Venezuela They get what they voted for. Let's hope Congress doesn't fold.

OsageArcher Colombia Expert

1660POSTS

3 years ago

#24

I don't believe this will turn out well for Colombia.

As H.L. Mencken wrote, "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard."

In my opinion (and I've been wrong before) this will result in a turn for the worse for Colombia and its people, in all respects. "Castillos en el aire" is for daydreams, not for running a country.

2 members reacted to this post

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

#25

From Reuters, early Sunday evening, June 19,

dateline Bogotá...

Leftist Gustavo Petro, a former member of the

M-19 guerrilla movement who has vowed

profound economic and social change, will be

Colombia's next president after beating

construction magnate Rodolfo Hernández

in an election on Sunday.

Petro, a current Senator and former mayor

of Bogotá, won 50.8 percent of votes, figures

from the national registry office showed,

while Hernández trailed by 797,973 votes,

tallying 46.9 percent of votes....

Some 20 million people cast ballots

nationwide.

Source... Reuters

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

#26

The first video reports and profiles of "el nuevo

presidente electo" have been posted, en español,

by El Tiempo, El Espectador and other outlets.

Seach at YouTube.com....

gustavo petro elected

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

#27

The New York Times's first report on the

election results is also en español...

[translation below]

Tras un ascenso inesperado de

rebelde clandestino a alcalde de Bogotá

y rostro obstinado de la oposición

colombiana, Gustavo Petro se convirtió

en el primer presidente de la izquierda

de Colombia, un momento crucial para

una de las sociedades más conservadoras

politicamente de América Latina.

After an unexpected rise from secretive

rebel to mayor of Bogotá and stubborn

face of the Colombian opposition,

Gustavo Petro has become the first

leftist president of Colombia, a crucial

moment for one of the politically most

conservative societies in Latin America.

Y, en cierta medida, su auge fue

impulsado por el electorado joven

más numeroso, bullicioso y tal vez

mas indignado en la historia del pais,

un sector que exige la transformación

de una nación caracterizada por

una profunda desigualdad social

y racial.

And, in certain measure, his rise was

propelled by a young electorate

greater in numbers, more boisterous

and perhaps angrier than in the

history of the country, a sector that

demands the transformation of

a nation characterized by profound

social and racial inequality.

Source... nytimes.com

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

#28

Hernández concedes.

In a rapid response that may ensure an

orderly transition to the new presidency,

runner-up candidate Rodolfo Hernández

has conceded defeat and recognized

Sr. Petro as 'presidente electo' of Colombia.

The concession speech is viewable at

YouTube.com

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

#29

Post posts early English-language report.

First paragraph of The Washington Post's

report of the election results, posted

in English...

Bogotá, Colombia -- Gustavo Petro,

a former rebel who rallied young and poor

voters with promises to transform an

unequal society, was elected Colombia's

first leftist president on Sunday, in a

resounding rejection of the political

establishment that has ruled the

South American nation for two centuries.

Source... washingtonpost.com

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

3 years ago

#30

"Today is a party for the people," Petro said in

a tweet. "Let us celebrate the first popular victory.

May the sufferings of many be cushioned in the joy

that today floods the hearts of the homeland."

---

Hernández swiftly accepted the results on Twitter.

He said, "I hope that Gustavo Petro will know how

to lead the country, that he will be loyal in his

discussion against corruption, and that he will

not disappoint those who chose him."

Source... washingtonpost.com

nico peligro Serial expat

957POSTS

3 years ago

#31

I really think they should raise the voting age to 40 world-wide

People under 40 dont have a well enough developed brain to make rational decisions

2 members reacted to this post

nico peligro Serial expat

957POSTS

3 years ago

#32

ohh.and humanities, social "science" and liberal arts grads (like gender studies, poly-sci, etc) should not be allowed to vote

2 members reacted to this post

cbogle54 Member

1POSTS

3 years ago

#33

I am a right to center politically. I have been doing a lot of research and considering buying property Medellin or Cartagena. From my understanding Petro has made some allegiance with the center of his government. He has appointed some intelligent men to key financial positions in his government. Everyone was very concerned about him getting into power. Please only answer this question if you have deep knowledge of the political situation in Colombia. I don't care about your opinions left or right please answer with facts.

The question is would you buy real estate in Columbia today knowing what you know? Thank you, Chris

Laker4115 Serial expat

217POSTS

3 years ago

#34

First, the country is called Colombia not Columbia. Second we sold an apartment that we owned in Pereira last year and one of the reasons we did so was because we were worried that if Petro came into power that it would become unsellable or if it was sold that it would be at a deep financial loss. So until the picture becomes totally clear and guaranteed, I would not invest a dollar in property in Colombia.

1 member reacted to this post

CaliRay Contributor

193POSTS

3 years ago

#35

In the 23 days since Gustavo Petro was elected as the next Colombian president, the value of the US dollar against the Colombian peso has risen nearly 11%. I haven't checked this against other currencies as my money is in USD. While this lasts, it's beneficial to anyone who receives their money in US dollars but it does not bode well for Colombians, especially those who enjoy imported food items.

Shortages of items in the supermarkets rose during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Perhaps someone more knowledge will comment on how this could affect ordinary Colombian's daily lives economically going forward.

1 member reacted to this post

Laker4115 Serial expat

217POSTS

3 years ago

#36

The same thing happened in Venezuela, the Bolivar started losing value as soon as Chavez was elected, which was great for people with income in dollars, and continued to lose value to the point people were using it as toilet paper and you needed a wheelbarrow of money to buy a tube of toothpaste.

1 member reacted to this post

HutchX2020 Active member

92POSTS

3 years ago

#37

@CaliRay

Due to the devaluation of yge Colombian peso normal things like food l, services, rents will cost colombians more also if you work in Colombia and you get paid in pesos your money is worth less, or less purchasing power in other words. Same thing happenned in Chile due to the leftist goverment they have.

Exchange Rate in Chile
On 13 March, the peso traded at CLP 839 per USD, a 5.4% depreciation from the same day last month. On a year-on-year terms, the CLP was down 20.3% and 10.4% on a year-to-date basis.

They wanted it, thats what they get now.

1 member reacted to this post

CaliRay Contributor

193POSTS

3 years ago

#38

@HutchX2020

I've seen the rise in a lot of comodities in the US and Colombia, but I am more interested if whether or not this devaluation of the peso will result in prices decreasing for Colombians for housing, transportation, etc. and will this cause job loses in an already strained economy.

America is in or soon will be in a recession. A number of economists and investors are predicting a housing market pricing collapse on the order of 40%. Housing starts and mortgage applications are dropping as construction jobs are being completed with no new ones coming.

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Laker4115 Serial expat

217POSTS

3 years ago

#39

In Colombia the devaluation of the peso means that everyone who depends on peso income will get poorer while the dollar earners will get richer. Same as has happened in all the socialist republics.

In the U.S. we also have a socialist government spending on the credit card like crazy. So housing prices are going up while incomes are not, so the housing market has less buyers while new construction is becoming slower because of rising interest rates. The U.S. is not suffering so much because it is a safe haven for people from other countries fleeing socialism. Right now the biggest buyers of housing in Miami are Colombians and Argentinians.

2 members reacted to this post

mtbe Contributor

195POSTS

3 years ago

#40

I am a right to center politically. I have been doing a lot of research and considering buying property Medellin or Cartagena. From my understanding Petro has made some allegiance with the center of his government. He has appointed some intelligent men to key financial positions in his government. Everyone was very concerned about him getting into power. Please only answer this question if you have deep knowledge of the political situation in Colombia. I don't care about your opinions left or right please answer with facts.
The question is would you buy real estate in Columbia today knowing what you know? Thank you, Chris
- @cbogle54

The answer to your question is: No. You should not buy real estate in Colombia in the next 5-8 years.

Petro is ignoring all those intelligent men assigned to key financial positions. His main finance minister has said the country cannot afford to stop petroleum and mining, but Petro has ignored this....to date, anyway. Also, that same finance minister has started talking about equality...not something a financial minister should be concerned with. Just means more tax on businesses and the wealthy. Business don't pay taxes...they just pass that on to the consumer. Petro has a degree in Economics and doesn't understand supply and demand nor what causes growth of a nation.

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