Political change in Colombia and the U.K.

0:00This is Ira Glass. On This American Life, one thing we like is a good mystery. Sometimes about really big things, but most times the little mysteries are the best. Our lost and found is currently filled with pants. I don't know. I've never seen this happen. Is this true? This is true. Mysteries of every size each week. This American Life, wherever you get your podcasts. Today on State of the World, political change in Colombia and the UK.

0:32You're listening to State of the World from NPR. We bring you the day's most vital international stories up close where they're happening. It's Tuesday, June 23rd. I'm Greg Dixon. In a few minutes, we'll hear about the next president of Colombia, a political outsider backed by President Trump. But first, we go to London. There, unpopular Prime Minister Keir Starmer tearfully announced his resignation this week, standing at a lectern outside No. 10 Downing Street. Every decision I've taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party. The man who may soon replace Starmer is Andy Burnham.

1:15He's the former mayor of Manchester, England, who brought growth and development to that post-industrial city. But he's no stranger to the halls of power in Westminster. NPR's Lauren Frayer introduces us to Burnham. Andy Burnham was first elected to Parliament 25 years ago when he was 31. In 2015, he was a veteran MP, welcoming a new lawmaker into the legislature. And for that, I wish to thank my honourable friend, the member for Holborn and St. Pancras, for the assured and excellent... The right honourable gentleman from Holborn and St. Pancras, otherwise known as Keir Starmer. Has managed to outshine his considerable reputation already.

1:54That same year, Burnham put out this campaign video. I can unite this country, and that is why I am standing to be leader of the Labour Party. And Starmer was the one who nominated him. But Burnham lost twice, then left Parliament to become mayor of Greater Manchester. He brought economic growth to that post-industrial city, and has now returned to London as a folksy outsider, preaching business-friendly socialism. The kind of things that Mayor Mamdani campaigned on, you know, cheaper buses, better buses, more reliable buses. John McTernan was political secretary to Prime Minister Tony Blair. He says under Burnham, Manchester has had faster growth than any other region in the UK, including London.

2:36Burnham was sworn back into Parliament yesterday. We now come to Andy Burnham, member for Makerfield. As the new MP for a working class area where he trouts the far right. He's seen as the best chance to do that nationally if he's chosen as Labour Party leader on his third try and becomes prime minister. He'd be the seventh prime minister since the Brexit vote, which happened 10 years ago today. It ended up shrinking the economy, sparking anger at the governing class and contributing to this revolving door of leaders. I think the chances of him staying very popular for long are small. Labour insider Polly Toynbee says Burnham faces the same headwinds as Starmer.

3:17Heavy debt, very difficult to raise more tax. This country has never really recovered from the financial crash of 2008. Ever since then, wages, standard of living, been pretty much stagnant. And that's created a great undercurrent of disaffection. What Burnham does have is a rare high approval rating for now. Lauren Fryer, NPR News, London. Colombia is also experiencing political change, but there it is a much sharper turn. From a president that is on the left to one on the far right. And the margin of victory was razor thin. John Otis looks at whether Colombia's president-elect can unite the country enough to govern.

4:00Abelardo de la Esprea, a criminal defense lawyer who has never before held political office, won a razor-thin victory setting off celebrations in many Colombian cities.

4:15According to Colombia's National Electoral Council, De La Esprea topped Ivan Cepeda, a left-wing senator and protege of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, by about one percentage point. De La Esprea has promised a sharp turn to the right after four years of left-wing rule under Petro. Amid a surge in crime and guerrilla violence, De La Esprea says he will end peace talks with rebels, launch a military offensive, and build 10 mega prisons.

4:51In his victory speech, from behind a bulletproof glass shield, De La Esprea said, we are beginning a historic mission to recuperate our security.

5:09He added, I will be a president who understands that there is no freedom without security, no democracy without authority. De la Esprea's victory reflects a broader shift across Central and South America, where right-wing presidents now govern much of the region. And unlike the left-wing Petro, who clashed with President Trump and had his U.S. visa canceled, De la Esprea promises close ties to Washington. President Trump has already congratulated the candidate, and last night he invited the president-elect to come up to Washington. That's Carolina Barco, a former Colombian foreign minister. She said the two sides can cooperate on security, migration, trade, and Venezuela, Colombia's next-door neighbor.

5:58And I think this is a moment where we can sit down and define a program that will be helpful for both countries. Rather than a problem, many Colombians viewed de la Esprea's lack of political experience as a plus. Oscar Mejia, who voted for de la Esprea, points out that outgoing President Petro previously served as a city councilman, mayor, and senator, but called his government a big disappointment. You don't need political experience to be president, he says. Critics claim de la Esprea has an authoritarian streak. They compare him to Najib Bukele. He's the president of El Salvador, who has violated democratic norms and put more than 2 % of that country's adult population behind bars in a sweeping crackdown on gangs.

6:49Still, Bogota political analyst Sandra Borda says de la Esprea might prove to be more moderate. If you are Abelardo and you get the support of the private sector and the Colombian elites, you're not going to have a lot of need from, you know, authoritarian sort of measures.

7:10Indeed, following his narrow victory, De Lesprea was already toning down his radical rhetoric and reaching out to the losing side. Even if you didn't vote for me, your rights will be respected, he said. You will never have to be afraid of thinking differently. My aim is to win your trust. For NPR News, I'm John Otis in Bogota, Colombia.

7:42That's the State of the World from NPR. Thanks for listening. This is Tanya Mosley, co-host of Fresh Air. Don't miss my interview with comic and storyteller Ali Sadiq. We talk about fatherhood, healing, and how prison changed him. He's been out 29 years, but he says... These psychological wounds are different than my physical wounds. Listen to Fresh Air on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of It's Been a Minute, NPR's What's Happening in Culture podcast starts by asking three questions. Who? How? Why now? If the culture's asking it, we're talking about it. At NPR, we stand for your right to be curious and indulge your cultural curiosity.

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