Gustavo Petro to seek dialogue with former President Uribe

Colombia’s left-wing President-elect Gustavo Petro announced on Friday that he will meet with right-wing former President Álvaro Uribe, who ruled the country between 2002 and 2010 and has been the leading conservative figure in the country.

Mr. Uribe, who in 2020 was put under house arrest while facing charges of fraud, accepted Mr. Petro’s invitation but added that they have “different views” on Colombian issues. The two have traded barbs for years, but the president-elect says he wants to steer Colombia into an “era of dialogue, which is the foundation for all humanity.” 

On Sunday, Mr. Petro won the presidential race by a tight margin and could have his upcoming presidency marred by polarization. Which is why extending an olive branch to a historical rival could cool the political climate somewhat — that is, depending on the outcome of their meeting.

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