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1 1 (June 24, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/govehxg0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional ____ ~ Research Service Colombia: Presidential Elections in 2022 Updated June 24, 2022 On June 19, 2022, Colombian voters elected as president former senator Gustavo Petro in a close but decisive victory over Rodolfo Hernandez, a construction magnate and one-term mayor. The runoff garnered the highest turnout for a second round presidential vote since 1994, with Petro winning 50.5% of the vote followed by Hernindez at 47.3%. President-elect Petro is set to become Colombia's first leftist president and leads a coalition of left parties known as the Historic Pact. The president-elect is a longtime leader of the political opposition and was once a member of the M-19, a leftist guerilla group that demobilized in the late 1980s. Petro (62), successful in his third run for the presidency, is scheduled to be inaugurated August 7. Hernandez (77), as the runner-up, qualifies for a seat in the Colombian Senate, although reportedly, he may decline it. Colombia is the third most populous country in Latin America and a close U.S. ally. Many Members of Congress maintain a keen interest in Colombia, particularly on issues regarding narcotics trafficking, responses to Venezuela, trade, human rights, climate change, and the peace process with former insurgent forces. Petro's victory may potentially shift Colombia's position on several of these issues. Economic Uncertainty, Security Challenges, and a Divided Legislature Petro's victory unsettled markets due to concerns about his economic policies and potential to redefine the two-decade partnership with the United States. On June 21, Petro received a congratulatory call from President Joe Biden, which Petro characterized as very friendly. Petro has advocated for the maximum implementation of a peace accord that the government signed in 2016 with Colombia's then-largest guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). His top policy objectives include bolstering institutions related to peace and reconciliation processes; addressing unequal access to land and increasing rural inclusion; fighting poverty; and reducing food shortages. Colombia faces a complex security environment that poses significant challenges to the incoming administration. Areas of concern include the 1,400-mile border with Venezuela, Colombia's neighbor that reportedly provides a safe haven for criminals; the expansion of the National Liberation Army (ELN), now the largest leftist guerrilla group seeking to expand its control of illicit mining and drug trafficking; and the increasing cocaine exports managed by an array of criminal groups, including dissidents from the FARC peace accord. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN11955 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress

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