Elections in Peru and Colombia: What is at Stake?

In this episode of Sustainable LatAm, we unpack the high-stakes elections approaching in Peru and Colombia.Despite severe political instability—highlighted by Peru cycling through eight presidents in a single decade—both nations have managed to sustain surprisingly stable macroeconomies. We explore this fascinating disconnect, breaking down how the fear of crime, targeted social investments, and deep regional divides are driving voters to the polls.Zooming out, we also analyze the massive geopolitical tug-of-war playing out in Latin America, from China’s infrastructure push via Peru's Chancay mega-port to the US's strategic counter-influence in Colombia.Key Takeaways:The unpredictable nature of Peru's crowded 35-candidate race.The stark gap between actual crime statistics and public perception.The driving forces behind Gustavo Petro's polling surge in Colombia.US vs. China: The battle for strategic influence and infrastructure.The looming threat of fractured congresses and the necessity of complex coalition-building.Production: Sustainable LatAmPresenters Andrew Thompson - International journalist & political-risk analyst with deep LatAm coverage (OBG, EIU, Latin News; ex-Head BBC Learning English).Alberto Souviron - International journalist and digital comms leader for EM investors; ex BBC/Newsweek/Lloyd’s Register. Julian Seydoux - AI-driven finance entrepreneur (FirmView AI, Fast Audit AI); ex-Moody’s/Consilium; cross-border EM & LatAm focus.