Colombia president snagged by protests, congressional revolt

[Judi Lynn]

Manuel Rueda, Associated Press
Updated 8:39 pm CST, Friday, November 16, 2018

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Ivan Duque was sworn in as Colombia's president in August after an easy election victory in which he promised to boost the sluggish economy by decreasing corporate taxes, while bringing order to rural areas that have long been plagued by drug trafficking and violence between armed groups.

But as he completes his first 100 days in office his plans to modernize Colombia have been beset by street protests and an unruly congress that has blocked some of his flagship initiatives.

Even his own party members have spoken against a proposed tax overhaul needed by the government to raise $4.5 billion for social programs that include efforts to reintegrate thousands of former guerrilla fighters.

The 42-year-old conservative also faces challenges on the international front. Colombia is grappling with a mass influx of Venezuelans fleeing the economic collapse in their neighboring homeland, and it's under pressure from the U.S. to reverse a boom in coca growing that has put output of the main ingredient for cocaine at record levels.

More:
https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Colombia-president-snagged-by-protests-13399973.php