5 things you need to know about the Colombia elections as voter anger boils over
- The country is heading into a tense local election cycle, with polls showing a massive wave of anti-incumbent sentiment fueled by corruption scandals and economic frustration.
- Violent attacks on candidates have spiked dramatically, making this the deadliest pre-election period in recent history, with over 30 local politicians assassinated this year.
- President Gustavo Petro's ambitious "Total Peace" plan is on the ballot, with voters judging his administration's failure to curb violence and right-wing paramilitary groups.
- A record number of independent and outsider candidates are running, promising to break the traditional Liberal-Conservative stranglehold on mayoral and gubernatorial seats.
- International observers warn that disinformation campaigns, particularly on WhatsApp and TikTok, are spreading false voting information that could suppress turnout in key regions.