In an analysis published in La República, columnist Andrés Guillén argues that President Gustavo Petro is strategically advancing in Colombian politics while the opposition fractures due to egos and personal interests. Guillén criticizes the government's handling of health, public order, and the economy, drawing parallels to Venezuela. He warns of risks from multiple opposition candidates in the 2026 elections.
Columnist Andrés Guillén, in his article 'Petro acierta' published on April 3, 2026, in La República, offers a critical view of Colombia's political landscape. He states that, despite issues in Gustavo Petro's government—such as crises in the health system with medicine shortages and failing entities, deteriorating public order, corruption involving the Health Minister and family members, and Colombia as the world's second-largest cocaine producer—the president pursues a coordinated strategy to maintain power.
Guillén describes macroeconomic management as irresponsible, with legal instability and attacks on institutions. He notes Petro rejected foreign aid for disaster victims in Córdoba but advances a regressive, confiscatory tax reform through decrees, discouraging investment. The author portrays the opposition as inactive, 'shuffling' candidates driven by egos, akin to Venezuela's fragmented opposition that needed external intervention to unify.
The piece highlights opposition disunity: over eight candidates in a primary, potentially boosting a leading female candidate against 'el Tigre' (likely Federico Gutiérrez), favoring Petro's continuity. It references Sergio Fajardo's electoral persistence and Claudia López's Bogotá mayoralty and a primary with an unknown figure, seen as self-serving. Guillén concludes Petro illegally backs his candidate while opposition leaders chase power selfishly, risking a harmful radical victory for Colombians. In closing, he questions pollsters' reliability.
