Gustavo Petro Election: Marxist Gains in Latin America

The ongoing Marxist takeover of Latin America netted its biggest prize so far this month when Colombia elected a former terrorist as president. This onslaught, long in the making, threatens our national security and is peaking when we can least afford it — at a time of nonexistent leadership in Washington.

Gustavo Petro, a former M-19 guerrilla and controversial Bogota mayor, now leads this key U.S. regional ally, following a narrow victory — he won 50.48 percent of the vote — over populist candidate Rodolfo Hernandez on June 19.

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About the Author

Mike Gonzalez

Mike Gonzalez is the Angeles T. Arredondo E Pluribus Unum Senior Fellow at The Heritage Foundation.

MH

About the Author

Mateo Haydar

Mateo Haydar is the research assistant for Latin America in the Allison Center for Foreign Policy at the Heritage Foundation.

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The ongoing Marxist takeover of Latin America netted its biggest prize so far this month when Colombia elected a former terrorist as president. This onslaught, long in the making, threatens our national security and is peaking when we can least afford it — at a time of nonexistent leadership in Washington.

Gustavo Petro, a former M-19 guerrilla and controversial Bogota mayor, now leads this key U.S. regional ally, following a narrow victory — he won 50.48 percent of the vote — over populist candidate Rodolfo Hernandez on June 19.