Former Colombian Rebels Face Political Extinction in Weekend Elections

Ex-FARC guerrillas who transformed into the Comunes political party are struggling to survive Colombia's congressional elections this Sunday. The former rebels must now compete without the guaranteed legislative seats they received as part of their 2016 peace agreement. Political experts doubt the group can overcome public resentment from their decades-long armed conflict to earn enough votes to remain a recognized party.

BOGOTA, Colombia — One-time guerrilla fighters who previously dominated Colombia’s countryside now face an uphill battle to maintain their existence as a legitimate political organization during this Sunday’s crucial congressional elections.

The former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia members, operating under the political banner Comunes (Commoners), face steep odds in securing sufficient votes to keep their legislative positions or even preserve their official party recognition.

During the previous two legislative terms, the organization held 10 assured congressional positions — a benefit provided through their 2016 peace agreement with Colombia’s government.

However, those guaranteed positions have now expired according to the peace accord’s provisions, forcing Comunes to compete alongside all other political organizations without special advantages.

Political analysts anticipate the former insurgents will struggle to maintain their legislative presence amid fierce competition from over a dozen parties vying for Senate and House positions.

“They have not really gained the support of the people,” stated Yan Basset, who teaches political science at Bogota’s Rosario University.

The ex-rebels conducted kidnappings affecting thousands of citizens and carried out bombing attacks on numerous rural communities throughout their 50-year war against Colombia’s government.

According to Basset, the conflict’s negative legacy persists, “and obviously for many Colombians it is difficult to forgive.”

Despite having secured legislative seats, Comunes demonstrated poor electoral performance in past voting cycles.

The organization captured 89,300 votes across Colombia during 2018’s congressional races. This figure dropped to 50,100 by 2022.

This downward trend poses serious consequences since Colombian election regulations mandate parties secure at least 3% of total votes to maintain official recognition for candidate nominations and government funding eligibility. The previous election required 509,000 votes to achieve that essential 3% threshold.

To boost their electoral prospects this cycle, Comunes has partnered with Fuerza Ciudadana, an organization established two decades ago by progressive activists and scholars that recently secured mayoral victories and a gubernatorial win in northern Colombia.

The former guerrillas also seem to be downplaying their brand identity to make their candidates more appealing to ordinary voters. Campaign materials including flyers, banners and stickers prominently display Fuerza Ciudadana’s branding, while Comunes’ red rose emblem is notably missing from most promotional content.

Comunes additionally registered their coalition under the Fuerza Ciudadana name with election officials, guaranteeing the partner organization’s orange symbol, not their own, will be visible on Sunday’s voting forms.

“Politics in Colombia is very complex,” remarked Carlos Carreño Marín, a former FARC military leader.

Marín participated in FARC’s negotiating team for the 2016 peace agreement and has served as a Comunes congressional representative since 2018.

The 48-year-old is now working to retain his Bogota legislative position while recognizing the difficulty ahead.

“We are in an intense struggle against parties that have been doing this for two centuries,” he explained.

Nearly 300 congressional positions will be decided during Sunday’s voting.

The election results could significantly impact President Gustavo Petro’s constitutional reform agenda. Petro has criticized judicial officials and lawmakers for obstructing his initiatives to nationalize Colombia’s healthcare infrastructure and overhaul the retirement system.