Paloma Valencia's Presidential Bid: Colombia's Shift Back to Conservatism?

Paloma Valencia, a right-wing Colombian lawyer and senator, is vying to be the country's first female president. Backed by former President Alvaro Uribe, she's campaigning on security and economic revival. Valencia opposes negotiations with armed groups and aims to reimplement Uribe's successful policies.

Paloma Valencia, a right-wing Colombian lawyer and senator, is running for the presidency, seeking to become the nation's first female president. In Sunday's presidential contest, she aims to address security issues and boost the economy, areas she claims have worsened under the current leftist administration.

Valencia, aged 48 and from two influential conservative families, has the backing of former President Alvaro Uribe. Uribe, who achieved major successes against leftist guerrillas in the 2000s, remains a significant political figure despite past legal battles. Valencia emphasizes her loyalty to Uribe, promising to emulate his administration's successes if elected.

As one of the most prominent opposition figures in Congress, Valencia hails from Cauca, a region heavily impacted by conflict. She opposes the peace deal with FARC and President Petro's attempts to negotiate with other armed groups. Instead, she vows to pursue and prosecute guerrilla factions aggressively.