Petro’s third presidential run comes as Colombia is reeling from high rates of unemployment and inflation fed by the pandemic. When that became unfeasible, the mayor returned to the subway idea, but had too little time left to execute it, said Juan Carlos Florez, a historian who was then a city council member. Though some of his ideas, like mobile health care units in poor neighborhoods, proved successful, his administration was also marked by large numbers of unexecuted projects and frequent clashes with technical advisers and members of his own cabinet.Ī study financed by the central government proposing a subway in the city was ditched by Petro, who wanted to use the money for a tramway. Petro’s supporters say he will focus on reducing longstanding inequalities that have fueled decades of political violence and led to the creation of powerful drug cartels. The current president - who cannot seek reelection - is Ivan Duque, a conservative from Bogota’s elite. The senator, who began his career in politics as a rebel, is aiming to become the first leftist president in a nation that has long been ruled by politicians with ties to wealthy families and powerful business groups. With an emotional anti-establishment discourse and promises to boost state involvement in the economy, Petro has garnered a comfortable lead in polls as Colombia heads into Sunday’s presidential election. “We want a country where the state provides fundamental rights like education and health, and can finance them because there is a productive economy.” “What we offer is a different way to perceive Colombia,” Petro said in an hourlong address. In the crowded public square, supporters waving the flags of opposition parties cheered when Petro promised to oust a political class that “prefers to work with criminals.” The leftist presidential candidate spoke of the need to protect local farmers from heavily subsidized foreign competitors. FUSAGASUGA, Colombia (AP) - Flanked by bodyguards with bulletproof shields, Gustavo Petro stood on a stage and lashed out at Colombia’s political elite in a speech to the residents of Fusagasuga, a rural town where farmers are struggling.