In Colombia this week, demonstrations against a government tax reform proposal evolved into widespread general protests—fueled by the economic and social desperation provoked by the still-raging COVID-19 pandemic—that have been met with brutal repression from state security forces.
A year of lockdowns, high unemployment, and rising poverty rates has provoked social discontent in Colombia. The current wave of protests—while originally triggered by the government’s poorly conceived, strategized, and communicated tax reform proposal—have been further inflamed by police brutality, a tone-deaf government response, and a vacuum of political leadership.
After several months of waiting, the Colombian government unveiled a tax bill intended to address the fiscal and social crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the proposed bill has not been well-received, and the following verdict has been almost unanimous: the proposal punishes the Colombian middle-class and jeopardizes economic recovery. Unless an agreement is reached in Congress in the coming months, Colombia could risk its post-pandemic socioeconomic recovery.
On the day before the Easter holiday, the Colombian Attorney General’s office issued an indictment against the former governor of the Antioquia Department and current presidential contender, Sergio Fajardo, for fund mismanagement alleged to have taken place in 2013. Fajardo’s response to the allegations against him may redirect his candidacy just one year before Colombia’s presidential election.
Over the past four years, Colombia has eradicated nearly 300,000 hectares (more than 1,000 square miles) of coca while seizing more than 2,000 metric tons of pure cocaine and cocaine base, but the country remains plagued by illicit drug activity.
This does not mean a Petro presidency is the best option for Colombia. Though both the current government and the business sector want to avoid this scenario, their actions have continued to open the door to the possibility of a Petro victory.
Amid a flurry of recent gang violence in Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador, a recent New York Times article argued that the Biden administration has an opportunity to decrease the flow of weapons across the southern border by passing legislation requiring universal background checks.
The Colombian oil industry had many ups and downs in 2020, but Wall Street has been lifting 2021 oil price predictions, and positive oil price forecasts are expected to help bolster Colombia’s production.
After the Centro Democrático party sought to interfere in the United States presidential elections, there have been further efforts to interject themselves into the domestic politics of other countries including Peru, Argentina, and now Ecuador.
