Colombia’s new right-wing government faces an uphill battle

Colombia is experiencing a significant political shift as right-wing President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella takes office, succeeding the left-wing incumbent, Gustavo Petro. This transition marks one of the most consequential changes in the country's recent political landscape. Similar to other Latin American nations that have recently moved to the right, Colombia is expected to grapple with deepening polarization.

It is anticipated that a strong opposition, potentially led by Petro, will arise to challenge the new government.

The incoming administration is set to inherit a mixed economic legacy. While social progress has been made, with multidimensional poverty continuing to decline, this improvement is primarily due to enhanced access to education, healthcare, public utilities, and housing, rather than substantial gains in income levels. However, the rural-urban divide has widened, and the healthcare system is currently facing a severe crisis.

Additionally, although unemployment decreased under Petro's tenure, much of this improvement can be attributed to an expansion of public-sector jobs. The new government will likely need to implement fiscal adjustments, which could potentially reverse some of the progress achieved. A substantial portion of Colombia's workforce remains informal, with nearly half of urban workers and over 80% in rural areas lacking stable employment.