Elections in Colombia: A Working-Class Perspective
Hello everyone! Welcome to my blog, a space where I share my reflections on issues that affect us daily. Today I want to talk about something that’s in the air: the upcoming elections in Colombia. With the 2026 presidential elections approaching, the political landscape is charged with tension. Talking about politics is complicated in itself, with passions and divisions everywhere. However, from my perspective as part of the working class, I believe we are in an era where the traditional labels of “left” and “right” no longer apply, at least not for us, the common citizens.
Left or Right? An Obsolete Debate for the Common Person
In theory, the left promotes social equality and a protective state, while the right emphasizes the free market and private enterprise. But in practice, for the working class, we take the best of both worlds. We value policies like accessible education or public health (typically from the left), but we also appreciate economic stability and entrepreneurship (associated with the right). These divisions seem more like a tool for polarization than an everyday reality. In this globalized era, we must be pragmatic: focus on real solutions for problems like employment, security, and basic services, without getting stuck in rigid ideologies.
Disinformation: The Real Enemy in These Elections
One of the biggest challenges in Colombia is disinformation, which spreads like a virus and divides society. Some traditional media outlets, such as Semana (owned by Grupo Gilinski, led by Jaime and Gabriel Gilinski, with a conservative tendency and connections to right-wing political elites, although without direct representation in Congress), RCN (belonging to the Ardila Lülle Organization, a family with significant donations to political parties and influence in economic sectors, without direct representation in Congress but with historical ties to conservative figures), Caracol (from Valorem, part of Grupo Santo Domingo, with historical links to the political elite and campaign donations, though without formal representation in Congress), and Blu Radio (also from Valorem/Grupo Santo Domingo, with similar indirect political connections through economic influence), have been criticized for obvious biases and a lack of journalistic rigor. They often prioritize narratives that favor specific interests, making no effort to hide their partiality, which erodes public trust. These business groups, with strong ties to the economic and political establishment, do not have direct representation in Congress, but their influence extends through party funding and alliances with key figures.
For example, while President Gustavo Petro was giving a speech defending his achievements on topics like health and responding to criticisms about censorship and the conviction of Álvaro Uribe1 2, certain media outlets chose to cover a meeting presented as a “health forum” that involved former President Uribe, César Gaviria, and opposition pre-candidates. In reality, this event became a space to attack the current government’s health reform, despite the fact that several participants have been historically linked to problems in the health system, such as corruption in EPSs. This distracts from government progress and perpetuates fallacies about who is responsible for the system’s degradation.
Another clear case is the collapse of a bridge in Boyacá, which occurred in 2023. Some media outlets3 and social media users4 recently presented it as a failure of the current government, blaming it directly. However, the bridge was built and delivered in 2015, during previous administrations, and it collapsed in August 20235. The Petro government had built an alternate route before the collapse, which prevented deaths and major blockages, enabling routes like the one through El Sisga. These examples illustrate how facts are manipulated to generate confusion, ignoring historical contexts and preventive actions.
The Role of Alternative Media: A Light in the Darkness
Fortunately, there are options that prioritize real investigative journalism. Outlets like Al Punto (an independent digital space focused on critical news, without clear corporate owners but operated by journalists like Giovanni Celis, with a critical stance toward the establishment and no direct political connections), Señal Colombia (a public channel owned by the State through RTVC Public Media System, with government influence but no private partisan representation in Congress), Canal Uno (currently under HMTV1, a US company with local partners, under government review but without direct political ties in Congress), and figures like “Los Danieles” (independent columnists like Daniel Coronell and Daniel Samper Ospina, associated with Cambio Colombia, with criticisms of power but no formal political representation, though with a liberal heritage) offer deep, verified analysis, independent of economic or political pressures. These spaces investigate scandals, contrast information, and expose manipulations, helping to unmask fallacies on electoral and social issues. Their work is essential for a balanced panorama, especially in a country where traditional media sometimes acts as an extension of elites who see Colombia as their “backyard.”
Our Responsibility: Investigate and Corroborate Before Speaking
As thinking individuals, we cannot accept information without verifying it. Always investigate diverse sources, use fact-checkers like Colombiacheck, and contrast narratives. Ask yourselves: Who benefits from this version? In the upcoming elections, let’s prioritize facts over emotions. As the working class, let’s unite for a fair Colombia, free from disinformation.
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Consulted Sources
- La Silla Vacía
- Agency for Investigative Journalism
- El Tiempo
- Infobae
- X
- Yahoo Noticias