Nayib Bukele’s Content Machine Is Reshaping Latin America
How El Salvador’s authoritarian leader loomed over Colombia’s Presidential race.
Colombia's presidential election in June saw social-media savvy right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, who identified himself as "El Tigre," defeat leftist former philosophy professor Iván Cepeda. De la Espriella's campaign utilized a nationalist ethos similar to Jair Bolsonaro's, co-opting the national soccer team's yellow jerseys to create a sense of unity.
Despite winning by a narrow margin, his victory marked a rejection of Petro, who was term-limited and implemented policies such as raising the minimum wage and promoting energy transition. Petro's approach to security, however, was considered ineffective, with homicides rising and armed groups growing in strength. Bukele's election was seen as a rejection of Petro's policies and a preference for a more aggressive approach to crime.
Colombian journalists noted that de la Espriella had drawn inspiration from other right-wing leaders in the region, such as Argentine President Javier Milei and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
Written by urgent.news from The New Yorker's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
