Legislative and presidential elections in Colombia in 2002. First left wing government in the country’s political history

Abstract

This article aims to provide an overview of the presidential and legislative national election that took place in Colombia in 2022. In that year, for the first time in the country’s political history, a left‑wing president, Gustavo Petro, was elected. In the parliament, also for the first time, a list composed of left‑wing parties, Pacto Histórico, achieved the highest percentaje of votes and seats, surpassing the traditional parties. The article offers information about the party system configuration, and argues that its growing fragmentation poses significant challenges to political stability, yet it also serves as an indicator of an inclusive, flexible and mature democracy. The article describes the political context in which the elections ocurred, and provides an overview of the Colombian electoral rules.

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