The economist and former mayor of Bogotá
Gustavo Petro, previously a candidate in the 2018 presidential election, is leading some opinion polls and could become the first president of Colombia from a left-wing coalition. His political party,
Colombia Humana, has promoted the creation of the
Historic Pact for Colombia coalition, which includes social movements, socialist, environmental and feminist associations. The ideological diversity of the coalition is seen as a source of internal tension. The coalition is scheduled to hold a primary in March 2022 to select its candidate, with Petro seen as the favourite.
[30][31] Petro has been trying to win over more of the middle class during his campaign, which has led him to moderate his economic program and his criticism of the private sector, while trying to distance himself from Venezuela, which he previously supported. He is critical of Colombia's
neoliberal economic system and its reliance on oil and gas. He advocates progressive proposals on women's rights and
LGBTQ issues, and supports a peace agreement between the state and the guerrillas.
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The centrist coalition, made up of significant figures ranging from the center-left to the center-right, is placed as second most voted in some opinion polls. Several of its leaders have indicated their desire to be nominated as the coalition's candidate, and a primary is expected to decide between them. The contenders are
Sergio Fajardo, former mayor of Medellín and a candidate in the 2018 presidential election, which is seen as the favourite against;
Juan Manuel Galán, co-founder with his brothers of the New Liberalism party and son of
Luis Carlos Galán, a politician assassinated in 1989 by the Medellín cartel; and
Alejandro Gaviria, a former minister and intellectual. The coalition is seen as having strong support among the upper socio-economic strata in the big cities.
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The ruling
Democratic Center has nominated former minister and businessman
Óscar Iván Zuluaga, who was a candidate in the 2014 presidential election. Zuluaga has not performed too well in some opinion polls, with some attributing the approval ratings of President Iván Duque. Zuluaga is mostly seen as appreciated by the private sector and voters on the right. He has made steps towards the centre and has run a moderate campaign by declaring himself in favour of raising the minimum wage. He is primarily campaigning on the issue of security, saying he wants to implement "democratic security 2.0" in reference to former President Alvaro Uribe's policies.