--- type: politician_profile lang: en canonical: https://www.politicaelectoral.com/en/colombia/politicians/gustavo-petro name: Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego partido: pacto-historico updated_at: 2026-05-03T12:36:16 data_crc: e0550e31 --- Gustavo Petro is the **President of Colombia** and leader of the **Historical Pact (Pacto Histórico)**, governing since 2022. ## Political career Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego was born in **1960** in Ciénaga de Oro, Córdoba. He studied at the **Universidad Externado de Colombia**, where he trained in economics, and later pursued postgraduate studies in public administration. His political identity was shaped early by activism in the student movement and by his connection with the left-wing **19th of April Movement (M-19)**, to which he belonged in his youth. After the peace process that demobilised M-19 in 1990, Petro moved into electoral politics, becoming one of the most visible former guerrilla figures to enter institutional life in Colombia. His first major national office was as a **member of the Chamber of Representatives** and later as **Senator of the Republic**, where he built a reputation as a sharp critic of corruption, paramilitarism and the political establishment. He was a senator from **2006 to 2012**, and again from **2018 to 2022**. In Congress, he became known for investigative debates, anti-corruption campaigns and forceful interventions on social inequality, extractive industries and state violence. Petro then became **Mayor of Bogotá** from **2012 to 2015**. His mayoralty was a defining chapter in his career: he promoted a more expansive social agenda, emphasising public services, waste management reform, climate concerns and the role of the State in correcting inequality. His administration was also highly polarising and faced significant confrontation with other branches of local and national government, especially over the collection of refuse and changes to Bogotá’s sanitation model. In **2022**, Petro won the presidency as the candidate of the **Historical Pact**, becoming the **first left-wing president in Colombia’s modern history** and the country’s first former guerrilla member to reach the presidency through elections. His victory marked a major shift in Colombian politics, ending the long dominance of centrist and right-leaning coalitions. As president, he has placed the ecological transition, peace policy, social reform and anti-poverty measures at the centre of his agenda. ## Relationship with the public Petro has a strongly mobilising relationship with part of the electorate, especially voters on the left, young people, urban progressives, sectors of the lower-income population and those dissatisfied with traditional parties. He is a highly effective public communicator, often using speeches, social media and direct political confrontation to frame debates around inequality, corruption and the need for structural change. At the same time, his relationship with the wider public is polarising. Admirers see him as a politician who gives voice to excluded groups and challenges entrenched elites; critics view him as confrontational, ideologically rigid or prone to governing through permanent political conflict. His style tends to generate strong emotional identification among supporters and equally strong rejection among opponents. His relationship with the **media** is also contentious. Petro frequently accuses parts of the press of bias against his government or of defending established economic and political interests. He relies heavily on direct communication, especially via social platforms and public rallies, which allows him to bypass traditional intermediaries but also increases the prominence of rhetorical confrontation. Civil society organisations often engage with him on peace, human rights and environmental issues, though trade unions, business groups and social movements do not always align uniformly with his agenda. ## Positions and political profile Petro is generally identified with the **democratic left** in Colombia, though his programme combines social-democratic, environmental and anti-establishment elements. His key priorities include **social equality**, **land reform**, **labour rights**, **climate and energy transition**, **strengthening public healthcare and education**, and **full implementation of the peace agreement** with the FARC. He has argued for reducing Colombia’s dependence on oil, coal and extractive industries, a stance that has made him prominent internationally and controversial domestically. He is also known for a strong anti-corruption discourse and for criticising what he sees as Colombia’s historic alliance between political, economic and armed elites. In office, he has promoted broader state intervention in the economy and public policy, alongside efforts to negotiate with armed groups and reduce violence through “total peace” policies. Supporters describe him as a transformative reformer; critics argue that his approach can be inconsistent, politically combative and institutionally disruptive. Several moments define his public profile. His role in debates over **security, inequality and peace** during his time in Congress made him a national opposition figure. His **2012–2015 Bogotá mayoralty** showed both his ambition to govern at scale and the difficulties of implementing reformist agendas in a fragmented political environment. His **2022 presidential victory** was historic in symbolic terms and significant in substantive terms, as it realigned Colombia’s ideological map. As president, his handling of pension, labour, health, security and energy debates has further cemented his image as a polarising but agenda-setting figure in Colombian politics. ## Frequently asked questions **Who is Gustavo Petro?** Gustavo Petro is a Colombian politician, economist and former guerrilla member who has served as **President of Colombia since 2022**. He is the leading figure of the **Historical Pact**, Colombia’s main left-wing coalition. **What party does Gustavo Petro belong to?** He is associated with the **Historical Pact (Pacto Histórico)**, a broad left-wing coalition that brought him to the presidency in 2022. **What offices has Gustavo Petro held?** Petro has been **Senator of the Republic** twice, from **2006 to 2012** and from **2018 to 2022**, and **Mayor of Bogotá** from **2012 to 2015**. He has been **President of Colombia** since 2022. **Why is Gustavo Petro important in Colombian politics?** He is important because he became the **first left-wing president in modern Colombian history**, marking a major break with the country’s traditional governing blocs. **How is Gustavo Petro perceived by Colombians?** He is seen by supporters as a leader for social change and by critics as a polarising and confrontational politician. Public opinion around him is generally highly divided. **What are Gustavo Petro’s main political priorities?** His main priorities include **peace-building**, **social reform**, **environmental transition**, **greater state intervention**, and tackling **inequality and corruption**.