Gustavo Petro reaches his highest approval rating practically since taking office as president of Colombia in August 2022. Today, 49.1% of Colombians approve of his performance, according to the most recent survey by Invamer published yesterday, Wednesday. The figure marks a jump of 11.1 points compared with the December 2025 measurement and breaks the streak of stagnation that had accompanied the president for much of his term.
The number is significant in a country accustomed to volatile public opinion. Petro is now at his highest level of support, approaching the symbolic 50% threshold — which he had in November 2022, with only three months in office — while disapproval falls and the political landscape begins to realign ahead of the final stretch of his administration.
The rebound raises questions about what changed in just a few weeks and why the political climate appears to have shifted in his favor.
According to the study, the president’s disapproval rating now stands at 46.1%, down from the previous poll, in which it was 56.7%. The survey also points to the main problems that, according to respondents, Colombia is facing.
The public order situation ranked first (30.9%, a decrease of more than 4 points), followed by unemployment and the country’s economic situation (18.0%, a decrease of 1.2 points).
Colombia’s Petro reaches highest approval rating since taking office
One of the factors coinciding with the rise in approval is the meeting held at the beginning of February with the president of the United States, Donald Trump. The meeting, held in Washington, D.C., was presented by the government as a firm step toward rebuilding the bilateral relationship and as a display of political pragmatism.
For a segment of the public, the image of Petro engaging directly with Trump projected stability and an ability to engage in dialogue in a complex international context. Beyond the evident ideological differences between the two leaders, the photograph and the subsequent messages sent a signal of diplomatic normalization.
In a country where the relationship with the United States remains a central pillar in trade, security, and migration matters, that gesture had an impact.
The government knew how to capitalize on the moment. It insisted that Colombia maintains a sovereign position while remaining willing to cooperate. The message was clear: The president can negotiate with any relevant actor without abandoning his domestic agenda.
That narrative, repeated in the media and on social networks, helped reinforce the perception of leadership in an arena where a president’s political stature is traditionally measured.
The second key factor is economic and has a direct effect on millions of households. The 23% increase in the minimum wage decreed for 2026 was one of the most visible decisions at the start of the year. In practical terms, it means higher income for formal workers and a strong political message to the middle and working classes.
The increase was presented as a measure to protect purchasing power against inflation and to reduce social gaps. Although business associations warned about possible impacts on employment and production costs, the announcement was received with relief by broad labor sectors. In immediate perception, the concrete benefit weighs more than macroeconomic fears.
The combination of active diplomacy and high-impact economic decisions creates a favorable context. Petro once again places his social justice discourse at the center of the debate and backs it up with actions that translate into concrete figures. In politics, symbolic gestures matter, but decisions that affect people’s wallets tend to have a stronger and faster effect in polls.
A rebound in a divided country and in an election year
The 49.1% approval does not mean unanimity. Colombia remains a polarized country, with nearly half of the population maintaining reservations about the government’s direction. Problems of security, employment, and institutional stability do not disappear with a favorable polling figure. However, the change in trend is evident.
For months, the president navigated numbers that kept him below 40%, with consolidated disapproval. The 11.1-point jump in a single measurement breaks that dynamic and strengthens his political position. In Congress and in regional arenas, a president with greater public backing has more room to negotiate and to push forward pending initiatives, despite the limited time remaining in his term.
The figure also influences the succession debate. Although Petro cannot seek reelection, his approval level affects the viability of the sectors that identify with his project. A president backed by nearly half the country conveys the idea that his agenda is not exhausted and that he maintains an active social base.
Indeed, in this regard, the favorable outlook that all the polls are giving to the continuity candidacy of Ivan Cepeda for the May 31 presidential elections points in that direction. Cepeda obtains 31.9% support in the first round of the elections, compared with 18.9% for his main pursuer, the conservative Abelardo de La Espriella. Behind them are the centrist Claudia Lopez (11.7%), the right-wing Paloma Valencia (10%), and the centrist Sergio Fajardo (6.6%).
However, nothing is guaranteed. Polls are snapshots in time, and Colombian public opinion has proven sensitive to unexpected crises. For now, in 10 days, the country will experience the first electoral scenario: The legislative elections and the voting in the interparty primaries that will begin to clear the path toward the May presidential vote.