Revista de la Mañana. Análisis de la segunda vuelta en Colombia (2018): el miedo, las noticias falsas y el reto de la oposición

Abstract

Professor Wilson Díaz Gamba, from the Institute for Pedagogy for Peace and Urban Conflict at the Distrital University, analyzed the results of the presidential runoff that brought Iván Duque to the presidency with 10 million votes and Gustavo Petro as opposition leader with 8 million votes. The academic highlighted two key phenomena: first, the proliferation of fake news and discrediting messages against Petro on social media, which deeply penetrated the most vulnerable populations with lower educational levels, associating him with satanic ideas or family abandonment. Second, he noted that fear of "Castro-Chavismo" and distrust in electoral institutions generated a catastrophic mindset that led many citizens to abstention or blank voting (808,368 votes, 4.20%). Díaz warned that Uribismo will now concentrate executive and legislative power, making a strong opposition vital to balance the powers. Finally, he expressed doubts about Duque's independence from Álvaro Uribe, given his political youth (42 years) and lack of administrative experience, which could result in "four years of Uribe's government.