Posted on 06/16/2018 10:32:50 PM PDT by BBell
BOGOTA (Reuters) - Gustavo Petro, a former insurgent turned rabble-rousing mayor, is fighting to become Colombia's first leftist president, turning his humble beginnings and revolutionary past into a rallying cry for millions of the nation's youth and poor.
The 58-year-old economist is about 20 points behind right-wing candidate Ivan Duque to replace President Juan Manuel Santos, but his presence in the second round has worried many in the traditionally conservative nation, where the right has kept a vice-like grip on power.
Proposals from Petro to change the nation's economic model by piling taxes on unproductive landowners and abandoning oil and coal for clean energy have spooked investors. Some fear his efforts to shift wealth from rich to poor could turn Colombia into another Venezuela.
Known for his fiery speeches from the Senate against corruption and right-wing paramilitary groups, Petro says his political awakening began in 1973 with the military coup that ended the rule of Chile's socialist President Salvador Allende.
Colombia was descending into violence around the same time, as guerrilla groups began a wave of kidnappings and attacks on civilians.
It was then that Petro, the son of a teacher, pledged to fight the "feudal" oligarchy enriching itself at the expense of Colombia's poor, the former member of the M-19 guerilla group said.
"Twenty-first century politics is between the politics of life and the politics of death," the father of six told Reuters in April. "I represent the politics of life."
Inspired as a child by political biographies, Petro reportedly raised the ire of his Catholic teachers by reading books by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
Although never a combatant, Petro's years in the now-defunct M19 rebel group - which stormed the Supreme Court in 1985, leading to the deaths of more than 100 people - have created fodder for
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
Regards,
Don’t vote for Petro.
Colombians were controlled by the deep state.
That is why they were so awesome lately.
He’s a fricken limousine/learjet leftest.
But but but...
They can make it work... this time!
This guy’s name is Petro and he is for clean energy? That’s like a guy named Forrest Green who’s for fossil fuels.
Yahoo is racist.
I hope the people of Colombia are smart enough to avoid this guy.
Things can always get worse, much worse...
Typical Yahoo bias.
Let's try:
The 58-year-old communist is about 20 points behind opposition candidate Ivan Duque
Or Reuters bias.
It’s worked out so well for other south and central American countries. So why not?
58-year-old economist, funny the socialist dictators are now economists
Folks in Colombia are very worried about Petro...damn near on panic mode. He may pull it off but it’s doubtful. I dont know of any Colombians voting for him.
His main message? “LET’S MAKE COLOMBIA LIKE OUR NEIGHBOR VENEZUELA!”
A good percentage will still vote for him.........
This is the mood: “I really don’t like either of them, but as I have to choose, it has to be Duque,” said Carlos Mora, a 52-year-old lawyer. “With Petro, I really think we’ll end up like Venezuela.”
Duque will win with 10 %?
The 58-year-old economist
Communist Don’t they mean.
They should just look to Venezuela to see what the SOB well do to their country.
If this guy wins, the refugee flow from Venezuela to Colombia might stop and reverse after a couple of years.
> The 58-year-old economist
>> Communist Don’t they mean.
How about a modern techno-compromise?
I suggest “e-communist.”
Clearly Petro is jealous of nieghboring Venezuela’s successful leftest Government. Of couse the glowing stories of how GREAT things are in Venezuela told by the millions of vacationing citizens only add to the jealous.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.