The Colombian Party System, 1991–2022

Abstract

Abstract The political party system in Colombia is a multi-party one. It is deinstitutionalized, since it exhibits high electoral volatility due to the entrance of new parties and decline of traditional ones, with low levels of partisan attachment and trust. However, unlike other countries in the region, Colombia’s party system has not collapsed, and the existence of alternative parties has revitalized the country’s representative democracy. This chapter focuses on the political and electoral performance of two parties, Centro Democrático and Comunes, that were created at a critical juncture triggered by peace negotiations between the national government and FARC-EP guerrillas between 2012 and 2016. These parties illustrate the volatility of the Colombian party system, but also its flexibility and resilience. The chapter shows that internal party organizations have a significant impact on electoral results. Overall, the chapter concludes that while the system faces challenges, it remains flexible and resilient, allowing for the emergence of new parties and preventing the crises seen in other countries in the region.