Iván Duque

Iván Duque, born on August first, nineteen seventy-six, is a prominent Colombian politician, lawyer, and writer. He served as the president of Colombia from two thousand eighteen to two thousand twenty-two, emerging as a significant figure in the country's political landscape. His rise to prominence was largely supported by his mentor, former president Álvaro Uribe, and he was elected as the candidate from the Democratic Centre Party in the two thousand eighteen presidential election, despite being relatively unknown just a year prior.

Duque's campaign was marked by a strong opposition to the peace agreement established by his predecessor, Juan Manuel Santos, with the FARC guerrilla group. Although he personally opposed the agreement, he chose not to cancel it during his presidency. His administration faced numerous challenges, including the Venezuelan refugee crisis, where he implemented an open-door policy that allowed approximately one point seven million Venezuelans to gain protected status in Colombia.

His presidency was also defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which posed significant challenges to the nation. Additionally, Duque's term was marred by widespread protests, including the two thousand nineteen to two thousand twenty protests against corruption and income inequality, as well as the two thousand twenty-one protests against a proposed tax measure. By the end of his term, his approval rating had plummeted to as low as thirty percent, reflecting the growing discontent among the populace.

On August seventh, two thousand twenty-two, Duque was succeeded by Gustavo Petro, who won the runoff round in the two thousand twenty-two presidential election. Duque's presidency, while marked by significant achievements, also highlighted the complexities and challenges of governing in a nation facing deep social and economic divides.