Colombia election: judging the opportunities and risks

Colombia’s upcoming presidential election could result in the country’s first left-wing government in recent decades, headed by Gustavo Petro. While he is unlikely to be as radical as many expect, Petro’s policies would lead to higher public debt, higher inflation and weaker medium-term economic growth compared to those of his conservative rival Federico ‘Fico’ Gutiérrez. The outlook on these three fronts would probably be even worse if populist Rodolfo Hernández stages a surprise victory. LatAm Drop-In (26th May, 10:00 ET/15:00 BST): Join our 20-minute briefing about Colombia’s election and other regional political and fiscal risks – including Lula vs Bolsonaro in October. Register here.