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Gustavo Petro is perhaps Colombia’s most vocal, visible and determinedly anti-establishment politician. From his youth onwards, Petro has made a political career of denouncing and preventing the Colombian establishment’s power abuses, constantly challenging the status-quo.

Petro, elected Bogotá mayor in 2011, was born in rural Ciénaga de Oro, Cordoba department, in 1960. His early childhood was humble and rural; both his parents were poor farmers.

Seeking a better future, Petro’s family decided to migrate to the more prosperous Colombian inland village of Zipaquirá – just north of Bogotá during the 1970’s. It was there, that Petro finished high school at Colegio Nacional de La Salle (the same school attended by Colombian Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez).

After graduation, and aged 17, Petro joined the political arm of the rebel armed group M-19. Petro, like his comrades, was reacting to the supposed fraudulent victory of Misael Pastrana over Gustavo Rojas Pinilla in the 1970 presidential election.

As a member of M-19, Petro quickly established a profile as a prominent and intellectual politico. Petro used the different political posts he went on to occupy in Zipaquirá to position himself as a daring and different leader, giving milk bottles to the poor, and leading the initiative to see refugees displaced by violence occupying wealthy landowners’ properties.

Petro has been historically attached to M-19’s well-known acts of violence (including much publicized kidnappings), and the infamous Palace of Justice Seige (Toma al Palacio de Justicia). This siege with its large number of casualties, disappearances, and resulting impunity for the perpetrators has become one of Colombia’s most emblematic tragedies.

After the siege, Petro used his influence within M-19 to promote peace talks with the government, helping to bring about the eventual dismantling of M-19 in 1990, and the subsequent amnesty for its members.

After full re-incorporation into civilian life, Petro was elected representative for Cundinamarca in 1991. He was then a member of the Alianza Democrática M-19 party.

Three years later, Petro was appointed as to a diplomatic role in Belgium, under the Samper administration.  The continuous death threats he received were an influential factor in his accepting the diplomatic post.

Back in Colombia, and after an ill-fated attempt in the 1996 Bogotá mayoral election, Petro was once again elected representative in 1998. This time for the Bogotá constituency.  It was during this second term in Congress, that Petro began to establish a reputation for being a thorn in the side of the Colombian political establishment.

His first cause was whistle-blowing dodgy funding of politicians’ election campaigns (a theme he would return to in later years). He was also recognized for exposing corruption scandals involving private banks, as well as the infamous case of the public hospital, San Juan de Dios.

In 2002, Petro was re-elected as a representative, with the highest number of votes received by any candidate in that election. Furthermore, it was during that term in office that Petro’s popularity catapulted, mainly for exposing notorious corruption scandals concerning ex-president Alvaro Uribe’s political allies.

Petro’s political opposition to Uribe’s 2002-2006 term in office was fierce. Perhaps his most celebrated act was uncovering the Parapolítica scandal that shocked the nation, and the international community alike (Parapolitics referred to the covert alliance between terrorist paramilitary organizations and politicians and public servants). Petro also campaigned hard against Uribe’s constitutional reform in favor of presidential re-election.

During 2005, Petro joined forces with a large number of opposition politicians to form the, then new, Polo Democrático Alternativo (PDA) party. By 2006, the party, along with Petro, had won popular support and recognition. Petro easily secured the jump from representative to senator in the 2006 congressional elections.

Once again, Petro stood out for his unrelenting opposition to Alvaro Uribe’s policies. As Petro grew his reputation at the national level, as well as inside his own party, his first presidential candidacy (2010) began to take shape.

His campaigning intentions crystalized when he beat traditional left strongman Carlos Gaviria for the PDA presidential nomination – Gaviria had been a previous presidential candidate for the left and Petro’s emergence was a surprise for some.

Petro’s 2010 campaign ended after he finished third behind current president Juan Manuel Santos and wildcard Green Party candidate Antanas Mockus.

After his failed presidential endeavor, Petro focused on Bogotá. He began by denouncing the public contracting of fellow PDA party members Samuel Moreno (then Bogotá mayor) and his brother Senator Ivan Moreno. Scandal ensued, and thanks to Petro, citizens realized the true magnitude of corruption.

Inside the PDA, the situation became untenable, and Petro decided to opt out and form his own party, Progresistas. Running, for Progresistas Petro won the 2011 Bogotá mayoral election defeating Enrique Peńalosa and Gina Parody.

As the current mayor of Bogotá, it seems that now it is Petro’s turn to face aggressive opposition. He has been accused of improvisation in policy (particularly public sanitation), and a lack of management skills, and experience. Petro’s political life has been in opposition, and his critics suggest he has been unable to adapt to the rigors of administration.

Petro has responded to this criticism with the claim he is persecuted by mafias – the term he uses to describe establishment interests. Petro argues these mafia are seeking to sabotage his term as Bogotá mayor in order to minimize his chances for a future presidency.

Petro’s character has earned him a reputation for being stubborn and arrogant; however it is also precisely this character that has led him to face down the most powerful groups in Colombian politics, despite constant death threats. Petro’s determined attachment to legality (after being granted amnesty) is also well known, not only from his constant attacks on corruption, but also from his many rejections of bribery proposals.

A year into his mayoralty, Petro continues to polarize opinion. The vast majority of the Bogotá electorate are against his administration, but he has a fiercely loyal core support.

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