Colombia’s new president Iván Duque: Puppet or rock superstar?

Newly elected Colombian president Ivan Duque celebrates with supporters in Bogota, after winning the presidential runoff election on June 17, 2018. Image copyright AFP Symbol caption Iván Duque received through 12 share points

“A jovial determine lending a fresh face to conventional conservative politics.”

that may be one way Colombia’s media have defined Iván Duque, the man citizens have selected as their new president.

But at the same time as the FORTY ONE-yr-antique is seen as a breath of clean air by a few, others are involved in regards to the way forward for Colombia’s peace settlement following his win in Sunday’s election.

The candidate for the right-wing Centro Democrático (Democratic Centre) party has said he’ll revise aspects of the November 2016 peace take care of the now-demobilised Farc (Revolutionary Militia of Colombia) rise up group.

Mr Duque argues that the peace deal is simply too lenient on former guerrilla combatants accused of warfare crimes.

Image copyright Getty Photographs Image caption Mr Duque shares the same conservative ideology as his mentor, former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe (left)

Mr Duque has described Mr Uribe, who remains an impressive power in Colombian politics, as his mentor.

It was with Mr Uribe’s endorsement that Mr Duquie was decided on via the Democratic Centre to be its presidential candidate.

Under Colombia’s constitution, Mr Uribe was now not allowed to hunt re-election and lots of of Mr Duque’s critics argue that the newly elected president could be guided and even managed through the ex-leader.

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At The Same Time As Mr Duque publicly professes loyalty to Mr Uribe’s conservative ideology, he insists that he’s going to make his personal choices.

“i am no longer a puppet and he Uribe isn’t the puppeteer,” he instructed Colombia’s Blu Radio ultimate month.

Rock tune fan

Mr Duque gained convincingly within the 2d round with 54% of the vote, in opposition to FORTY TWO% for his left-wing rival, Gustavo Petro.

Symbol copyright Getty Images Symbol caption Ivan Duque’s rival for the presidency was Gustavo Petro

Lots Of those who voted for Mr Duque mentioned they preferred what they saw as his “marketplace-pleasant” manner.

Whilst his supporters spotlight his approachable persona – Mr Duque led a rock song band while in highschool – critics say he lacks the political enjoy required to steer the Latin American nation.

They argue that his opposition to sides of the peace care for the Farc could lead on to a reigniting of the armed struggle that raged for many years in Colombia.

A technocratic background

Iván Duque was born into a smartly-off, politically hooked up family from the capital, Bogotá. His father used to be governor of Antioquia province and later minister of mining and energy.

Image copyright Getty Pictures Image caption Mr Duque’s critics have prompt he lacks political revel in

He graduated with a law degree from Sergio Arboleda School in Bogota and also studied legislation and public management within the US – at American University and Georgetown College in Washington DC.

He has written 4 books, mostly curious about financial problems, and served as adviser to then-minister of finance Juan Manuel Santos, who later become president.

Mr Duque served on the Washington-based Inter-American Construction Financial Institution (IDB) before coming into politics 4 years in the past, when he used to be elected senator for the Democratic Centre birthday party.

During his victory speech he promised to unite the rustic after a marketing campaign that highlighted sharp divisions among the best and left.

Mr Duque will take over from President Santos in August.

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