Iván Duque

Iván Duque Márquez is a Colombian lawyer and politician. He served as the president of Colombia from 2018 to 2022.

His presidency was defined by complex social challenges and economic shifts. He represented the Democratic Centre Party during his time in office. This party was led by the influential former president Álvaro Uribe. Duque's leadership involved managing large-scale migration and a global health crisis. His administration also faced significant domestic protests and debates over peace processes.

Duque's professional journey began with extensive legal and international training. He earned a law degree from Sergio Arboleda University in 2000. Later, he studied international economic law at American University. He also completed a Masters in Public Policy Management at Georgetown University.

Before his presidency, he worked for several major organizations. He served as a consultant for the Development Bank of Latin America. He also acted as a representative for Colombia at the Inter-American Development Bank. These roles provided him with experience in international finance and policy.

In 2014, Duque entered the Colombian Senate through the Democratic Centre Party. This party formed after a split from the ruling party. The split happened because of peace negotiations with the FARC guerrilla group. As a senator, Duque authored several significant pieces of legislation. He passed Law 1822 to increase maternity leave to 18 weeks. Law 1831 required defibrillators to be available in busy public places. He also introduced the "Orange Law" to protect creative industries.

Duque's path to the presidency involved several competitive election stages. He first won his party's nomination in December 2017. He secured a 29.47% favorability rating among the candidates. In March 2018, he won a primary election with over 4 million votes. This victory allowed him to select Marta Lucía Ramírez as his running mate. In the final 2018 election, Duque won the second round with 54% of the vote. He defeated his opponent, Gustavo Petro, who received 42%.

During his term, Duque managed the Venezuelan refugee crisis with an open-door policy. He provided aid, schooling, and healthcare to those fleeing Venezuela. Approximately 1.7 million refugees gained protected status under his administration. In 2018, he dedicated 0.5% of government spending to support these refugees. This amount represented about 20% of the country's budget shortfall.

His approach earned praise from various international humanitarian organizations.

However, his presidency also faced severe domestic and economic difficulties. The COVID-19 pandemic caused Colombia's GDP to drop by 6.8% in 2020. This was the largest economic decline in the nation's history. Duque launched the "Prevention and Action" television program to communicate pandemic measures. While initially popular, the program eventually faced strong criticism. His government also dealt with large-scale protests in 2019 and 2021. These demonstrations were driven by concerns over corruption, inequality, and new tax measures.

Public safety and the war on drugs were also major concerns. Duque made fighting drug production a central part of his presidency. Despite these efforts, cocaine production reached record highs during his term. In 2022, the UN estimated a potential output of 1,400 metric tons. The period was also marked by increased violence against social leaders. Between 2018 and 2022, 930 social leaders were assassinated. Additionally, over 260 massacres occurred, resulting in more than 1,100 deaths.

Duque's term ended on 7 August 2022. He was succeeded by Gustavo Petro following the 2022 presidential election. Throughout his career, Duque maintained connections with many global leaders. He met with presidents from the United States, Argentina, and Israel. His presidency remains a significant chapter in Colombia's modern political history. It illustrates the challenges of leading a nation through migration, pandemics, and social change.