In a rather surprising move, Colombian President Ivan Duque released a video in English in which he attempts to blame political opponents and the protesters themselves for Colombia’s contracting economy, widespread unrest, and failed tax reform proposal.

As the video is in English, it appears not directed at Colombians, but at influencing his image in the eyes of foreigners. Under 3 years of Duque’s presidency, Colombia has experienced multiple cases of police abuse, record levels of cocaine production, a rash of massacres, and a rise in targeted killings of social and political activists.

Many political analysts are already accusing right-wing Duque of handing Colombia over to left-wing politicians based on his ineptitude, failure to execute, and tone-deafness. Duque’s prosecutor has already filed dubious charges against Colombia’s possible centrist candidate, Sergio Fajardo, in what appears to be an attempt to politically crippling the former Mayor of Medellin, leaving a right-wing candidate, possibly from Duque’s own party, and far-left former revolutionary Gustavo Petro.

“US Audiences know what this feels like, they know what it IS like,” said Sergio Guzman, co-founder of consulting firm Colombia Risk Analysis. “After George Floyd & Black Lives Matter, and using the military to clear Lafayette Park, American audiences connect with Colombian protesters much, much more!”

Colombian Anger With President Duque’s Administration Boils Over Into National Protests & Violent Confrontations With Riot Police

While Colombians initially protested Duque’s tax reform package that sought to expand income tax collection to those making well under $1,000 per month, the deadly reaction of Colombia’s riot police ignited emotions and invited many who might support a tax package to turn against the government’s violent response, and broader issues such as their failed vaccine rollout, ineptitude in the face of rising crime, and clear failure to sell policies to the public, or implement those it has initiated.

Now Colombia has lost its investment grade foreign currency rating, and the world has become largely appalled at the Duque Administrations response. His presidential legacy in tatters, Duque now seeks to convince the external world that “It’s not my fault, my opponents don’t like me!”  But Duque has to answer for the past three years and the legacy he has created. The police violence and cases of abuse, the historic record cocaine production, the failed implementation of the peace process, the lack of availability of COVID vaccines, the failure to protect social leaders.

Nobody Likes Ivan: Understanding The Nationwide Protests & Unrest In Colombia