Petro’s Popularity Plummets Amid Guerrilla Violence and Cabinet Turmoil

Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s approval rating has sunk to a dismal 33%, according to a February LatAm Pulse survey by AtlasIntel for Bloomberg News.

His disapproval rose sharply to 64%, up from 55% in January, marking the latest decline in his increasingly troubled presidency. Renewed guerrilla violence triggered the most recent drop in public confidence.

The ELN launched a devastating offensive against FARC dissidents in Catatumbo region on January 16. The attack killed over 80 people and displaced more than 50,000 civilians, creating what officials call one of Colombia’s worst humanitarian crises in decades.

Petro declared a state of emergency and deployed 10,000 soldiers to the region. The president’s “Total Peace” policy now faces severe challenges as violence continues to escalate throughout rural Colombia.

Armed groups now number over 21,000 members, representing a 14% increase from 2023. Internal government chaos further damages Petro’s standing. A chaotic six-hour televised cabinet meeting exposed deep divisions within his administration.

Petro publicly criticized ministers for failing to implement key projects, causing immediate backlash and multiple resignations. The president then demanded his entire cabinet resign, promising alignment with “the program mandated by the populace.”

Colombia’s Political and Diplomatic Challenges Escalate

Labor Minister Gloria Ramirez promptly quit, stating that “politics must advance without sectarianism and without ambiguities.” Diplomatic tensions with the United States compounded Petro’s troubles.

He blocked US deportation flights carrying Colombian migrants in January. Donald Trump immediately threatened 25% tariffs on all Colombian goods and announced travel bans against officials.

Petro ultimately backed down, allowing the flights to resume. The first two months of 2025 have also witnessed the murders of 27 social activists and 11 former FARC members. This violence particularly affects indigenous communities and rural populations.

Colombia faces continued instability as Petro enters the final phase of his presidency, which ends in August 2026. His remaining political capital dwindles while problems multiply across security, governance, and foreign relations fronts.