What do the Colombian candidates propose about Venezuela and migrants?

On May 29, around 39 million voters will return to the polls to elect the next president and vice president of Colombia.

The president-elect, who will hold the reins of Colombia 2022-2026, could also change the landscape for the thousands of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Colombia, indicates a special work by CNN en Español.

By April 2022, according to the Regional Interagency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela, led jointly by UNHCR and IOM, the number of Venezuelans in Colombia was 1.842.390.

For more than three years, starting in February 2019, diplomatic relations between Caracas and Bogotá were broken, which is why part of the expectation revolves around whether the appointment of a new president could mean the resumption of bilateral relations. with Venezuela.

The outgoing government of Iván Duque decreed a Temporary Protection Statute for Venezuelan migrants.

Candidate Gustavo Petro has openly said that if he wins he will restore relations with Venezuela, including the reopening of the border with Venezuela.

For his part, Federico Gutiérrez says that there will be no diplomatic relations, but that he will look for a way to reactivate the border commercially.

Gustavo Petro, Historical Pact

Restoration of relations with Venezuela: yes.

Gustavo Petro is the official candidate of the left who will compete again for the Presidency of Colombia, with Francia Márquez as his vice president.

"Colombia without xenophobia welcomes the migrant population as subjects of rights," reads the leftist candidate's government program.

It is stated that the migrant population, mainly Venezuelans, will be guaranteed their fundamental rights and their integration will be promoted on "equal terms with the Colombian population", as well as dignified conditions for their return to their countries of origin or transit.

"The unity of the peoples of South America and the reestablishment of the Andean and Caribbean Pact will be our priority," reads Petro's government program, which does not mention specific proposals with Venezuela. However, it indicates that the autonomy of the peoples will be respected and we will make our borders spaces for dialogue and integration.

"The borders with our neighbors and brothers will be what unites us and not what separates us," the program reads.

"We will reestablish and strengthen dialogue with our neighbours in order to promote regional integration, the amicable resolution of conflicts and the humanitarian, economic, social and violence crises in some of the border areas," he added.

Federico Gutierrez, Team for Colombia

Restoration of relations with Venezuela: do not.

Federico "Fico" Gutiérrez is the right-wing presidential candidate for the presidential elections, with Rodrigo Lara as his vice president.

Gutiérrez's government program indicates that the implementation of the Temporary Protection Statute for Venezuelan migrants will be maintained and "we will work to take advantage of the opportunities for our country to welcome the migrant population."

The plan also stipulates that the "social and comprehensive offer to the Venezuelan migrant population" eligible under the Temporary Protection Statute will be extended.

The right-wing candidate also proposes socioeconomic inclusion for Venezuelan migrants, as well as for returned Colombians.

Gutiérrez said in a debate in March that "Maduro cannot be recognized as a government, because it is a dictatorship" and that he will not reestablish relations with Venezuela. He said that decisions must be made on trade issues at the border, such as vehicular passage.

Rodolfo Hernández, League of Anticorruption Governors

Restoration of relations with Venezuela: yes.

Rodolfo Hernández, former mayor of Bucaramanga, is the candidate for the presidency of Colombia for the Anti-Corruption Governors League movement, with Marelén Castillo as its vice president.

"The country has a historical debt with Venezuela," reads the presidential candidate's government program. In his proposals, Hernández stipulates that many Colombian families managed to prosper when Venezuela had a currency and a solid economy, so "Colombia must advance in the fulfillment of solidarity objectives" for Venezuelan migrants.

Among his proposals is the design of a solidarity migration policy "preserving the interests and needs of Colombians," as well as reestablishing diplomatic and consular relations with Venezuela. And once this happens, "a program will be agreed upon in which said government will finance the sustainability of its population residing in Colombia."

Hernández also proposes an international work plan to "assume the humanitarian contingency of the mass migration of Venezuelans" and the construction of a public policy for Colombians returning to the country from Venezuela.

The former Colombian candidate, Ingrid Betancourt, resigned from the presidential race in order not to divide the votes for a centrist candidate, and with the hope that Rodolfo Hernández could reach the second round of the elections.

Betancourt, whose kidnapping and release by the FARC made world news, had been running for president of Colombia with José Luis Esparza as her vice president.

Regarding Venezuela, Betancourt proposed in his government plan to "recover freedom and control of the border" by resuming bilateral relations with Venezuela to guarantee that Colombians have access to all diplomatic services in Venezuela.

He also spoke about the creation of educational and cultural programs to address the negative perception of migration, as well as ensuring compliance with the rights of migrants "that are already regulated" so that migrants "remain within the law and contribute to the country's economic growth."

Sergio Fajardo, Hope Center

Restoration of relations with Venezuela: yes

Sergio Fajardo has proclaimed himself the standard bearer of the central option in a highly polarized Colombia, with Luis Gilberto Murillo as his vice president.

"Restoring democracy in Venezuela and rebuilding its economy by all Venezuelans is a priority for Colombia and the region, so that they can return to their country and live with dignity," reads the foreign policy proposals of the centrist candidate.

Fajardo also highlights the importance of establishing direct communication between Bogotá and Caracas "to mitigate tensions and address binational issues," such as the presence of illegal armed groups, organized crime and citizen security.

"It is no less important to keep open, with the appropriate biosecurity measures, the formal border crossings that allow the regularization and legalization of the transit of people, goods and services between the two countries," reads the candidate's proposals.

In addition, there is talk of the reopening of the Colombian consulates in Venezuela to assist the more than 3 million Colombians residing in Venezuela, indicates the CNN report in Spanish.