welcome to hardtalk. i am stephen sackur. constitutionally barred from seeking a second term in the countries upcoming election. but if he were running, his chances would not be good. his poll ratings are poor. last year, columbia was gripped by street protests, poverty,

inequality and violence remain endemic. president ivan duque is my guest today. could his departures signal columbia's rejection of the traditional ruling elite? president ivan duque. a very warm welcome to hardtalk. it is a pleasure having you in the studio. in a few weeks�* time, you will be leaving office in the opinion polls in columbia state a clear majority of your people disapprove of the job

you have done. why is that? let me tell you _ you have done. why is that? let me tell you something interesting. fouryears me tell you something interesting. four years ago, and the route of the elections, i got 39% of the vote and when you look at the national polls that have been outcome of those of the same numbers i have today. if i have a chance to run for reelection, for sure, i will fight for it not be reelected because we have important results to show six. we have an obligation to transform our country restore security and confidence to citizens, promote entrepreneurship, work towards a country with socialjustice. surely what happened just a year ago in columbia gave the lie to all of those promises you made. we saw thousands of people on the streets in cities across columbia come with all violence, people who were so poor they could no longer stand

it. �* , ., ., ~ poor they could no longer stand it. �*, ., poor they could no longer stand it. let's look at the facts and then the _ it. let's look at the facts and then the second _ it. let's look at the facts and then the second last - it. let's look at the facts and then the second last year. i it. let's look at the facts and i then the second last year. the facts. we have the lowest homicide rates in a0 years in columbia. the lowes kidnapping rates since we had kidnapping indicators in columbia. we have the largest reduction of multidimensional poverty since we started in 2010 and we have reached record highs and economic growth last year and in the first trimester 2022, it is been the best first trimester of this century in columbia. and it�*s very interesting, we saw three kinds of situations. 0ne, were legitimate peaceful protests that would try to address because people were affected by the pandemic in the aftermath of the pandemic and that is why we also expanded the social safety net by basically doubling the beneficiaries of social programmes in columbia.

the of the sober people who wanted to put blockades in the city and affect the economic growth of the city and i think those conditions are clearly criminal and that is what some of those people were trialed and the other thing that is important is we understood that there was a voice from youngsters who wanted to have better opportunities and job seeking. today and this is very important, we look at the indicators they came out last week, we had the lowest labour informality since we have been measuring informality in columbia. ijust gave me a lot of data trying to tell me that things are fine. things are not fine. you�*ve got almost 20 million colombians living in poverty, 6 million of them in extreme poverty and perhaps the worst indictment of your record, the food and agricultural organisation has just listed your country columbia as the only one and

all of south america which is suffering food insecurity and in need of food assistance. this is notjust data, it�*s evidence. this is not 'ust data, it's evidence._ this is not 'ust data, it's evidence. , , ., , , . evidence. they put in a public statement. _ evidence. they put in a public statement. saying _ evidence. they put in a public statement. saying that - evidence. they put in a public statement. saying that they l evidence. they put in a public. statement. saying that they did not sufficient _ statement. saying that they did not sufficient data _ statement. saying that they did not sufficient data to _ statement. saying that they did not sufficient data to prove - not sufficient data to prove that and they said that columbia has supported 1.8 million venezuelan refugees that have left venezuela that we have been attending them and what is called the most strong humanitarian action by latin american country in recent history and with that, we have been able to also, not only attend without too much international support, by the same time, we look at multidimensional poverty, which is an indicator that was provided by the united kingdom, we have reached the lowest levels in the century. it�*s we have reached the lowest levels in the century. it's not 'ust levels in the century. it's not just about — levels in the century. it's not just about poverty _ levels in the century. it's not just about poverty which - levels in the century. it's not just about poverty which is l just about poverty which is holding back your country�*s

growth prospects. it�*s about inequality as well. according to all the measures of inequality, yours is the second most unequal country in all south america.— most unequal country in all south america. ., ~ ., ., �*, south america. you know what's aood south america. you know what's good about _ south america. you know what's good about that _ south america. you know what's good about that question, - south america. you know what's good about that question, that l good about that question, that inequality in columbia unfortunately has been there for a long time and when compare the measures of inequality, but we had at the end of 2021 was lower than the one we had in 2019. because you know what, where the country and where the government that is leading free public education for the poorest of the poor to go to higher education in columbia. ross of the government that passed from 3 million beneficiaries of social programmes to 10 million families that have beneficiaries today and another thing that�*s very important as we look at housing, sources of electricity, it all comes to the multidimensional poverty and our record as shown multidimensional poverty has

reached record lows which means the policy that we have been embracing has been producing inequality. bo; embracing has been producing ineuuali . �* , embracing has been producing inequality-— inequality. by the colombian --eole inequality. by the colombian people do — inequality. by the colombian people do not _ inequality. by the colombian people do not seem - inequality. by the colombian people do not seem to - inequality. by the colombian people do not seem to buy l inequality. by the colombian i people do not seem to buy your argument. they don�*t buy the argument. they don�*t buy the argument on the economy insecurity because it is clear that if one looks at a whole host of different figures and anecdotal evidence from towns and cities across the country, colombians do not feel safe. they see the drugs cartels still operating with relative impunity. this he leftist guerrillas and paramilitary groups are operating you have not pacified your country. maybe you have to look also at the facts because we look at the facts because we look at the facts. i inherited obviously a lot of problems but we look at the two major indicators and latin american countries, having record lows in homicide is not something that benefits the people, having record kidnapping lowes is nestled benefits the people

and another thing is kingpins of armed groups who were the most dangerous criminals in columbia, he was captured and extradited and the structure has been dismantled. assuming that you also mentioned in the notes that you have over there is that people in columbia do not buy what i�*m saying and i�*m just showing the evidence. and i had a growth last year that was one of the highest in the world and in this first trimester, where one of the fastest growing economies in the world and in the area. and the world and in the area. and the figures can be a little misleading and different from the people experiencing the lives. ., , , lives. that is why the government - lives. that is why the government has - lives. that is why the | government has been lives. that is why the - government has been the lives. that is why the _ government has been the largest social investment ever in columbia. if you look at conditional and unconditional cash transfers, what we have

done is we have multiplied the social ways in such a scale that we are able to reduce poverty after all the effects of the pandemic and that is why we have multidimensional poverty reduced.- we have multidimensional poverty reduced. we have multidimensional ove reduced. ., poverty reduced. may be part of the problem _ poverty reduced. may be part of the problem is _ poverty reduced. may be part of the problem is that _ poverty reduced. may be part of the problem is that you - poverty reduced. may be part of the problem is that you talked l the problem is that you talked big you made big promises. if you also appeared on hardtalk a couple of times. you accused him of leaving columbia swimming and coca and under you, it would be very different. the problem is, if you look at the latest report from the transnational institute, one of the groups that measured these things. cocaine production continues to rise in columbia even if these areas of land under coca leaf crops is reduced somewhat, the actual size of production has risen on your watch. let actual size of production has risen on your watch.- risen on your watch. let me tell you _ risen on your watch. let me tell you about _ risen on your watch. let me tell you about this. - risen on your watch. let me tell you about this. 2015, i risen on your watch. let me| tell you about this. 2015, we have 15,000 actors of coca crops. and when i assumed

office, we had more than 200,000. the first thing i promise to the colombian people was that we are going to stop the exponential growth and we did it. and we�*re going to reduce the land of illegal crops we and of more than 670 tonnes that were seized by the colombian authorities and also something that is very important, we do some three armed groups and the war from which was supposed to be the biggest cartel, recaptured the kingpin and disrupted the line of command.— kingpin and disrupted the line of command. ., ., , ., ., of command. you are so proud to catch an easement _ of command. you are so proud to catch an easement extradited - of command. you are so proud to catch an easement extradited to l catch an easement extradited to the us and it was a great triumph. what did we see after he was captured? we saw that they were able to shut down towns and cities across the north of your country. they showed their power it�*s believed that they have thousands of men under arms inside the organisation and how

can you in the security forces allow that to happen?- can you in the security forces allow that to happen? first of all, it is good _ allow that to happen? first of all, it is good to _ allow that to happen? first of all, it is good to look - allow that to happen? first of all, it is good to look back- allow that to happen? first of all, it is good to look back in l all, it is good to look back in time, stephen. first of all, they did not shut down cities and they tried, they tried to generate a moment of uncertainty. but we have been not only attacking the structures, but we have kept on capturing and extraditing their leaders and something very important in the previous eight years of my administration, they tried to do the same thing four times. as part of the pattern of action. every time they feel weak, they try to create the uncertainty but the most important thing is they have never seen so many people captured and extradited as what is happened in my administration. �*, ., ~ administration. let's talk about the _ administration. let's talk about the leftist - administration. let's talk| about the leftist guerrillas who signed a peace deal with your predecessor government and your predecessor government and you opposed that deal and you

said it was wrong for colombian did not representjustice but you chose not to rip it up of the last four years but it seems you decided to do is just go slow on its implementation. do you feel that that is good for columbia? it�*s do you feel that that is good for columbia?— do you feel that that is good for columbia? it's always good to look at _ for columbia? it's always good to look at the _ for columbia? it's always good to look at the facts. _ for columbia? it's always good to look at the facts. not - for columbia? it's always good to look at the facts. not the i to look at the facts. not the gossip. to look at the facts. not the aossi -. �* ., to look at the facts. not the aossi -. �* . ., gossip. believe me, i am not rel in: gossip. believe me, i am not relying on — gossip. believe me, i am not relying on gossip. _ gossip. believe me, i am not relying on gossip. we're - relying on gossip. we�*re looking at the institute for international peace studies, the study very carefully what is happening in your country and they said 29% of the peace deal of courts have been fully implemented in the sub in roughly 2% advance and implementation over the past year. implementation over the past ear. implementation over the past ear, ., ., �* , implementation over the past ear, ., ., �*, implementation over the past year. so, again. let's look at the facts- — year. so, again. let's look at the facts. the _ year. so, again. let's look at the facts. the institute - year. so, again. let's look at the facts. the institute has l the facts. the institute has said that the advancement level is 35%. in a process that is aimed to be implemented in four administrations. that means at the moment, where we are, we

are on track. what is also very important is that the office has said that the advancement of this process has taken in this administration has been the fastest pay since it was signed to just give you an idea that when the government began, we only had the focus of development plans and today we have the 16 and they have $a billion in investment changing the life and improving the life conditions of people. let me finish there. because i feel it�*s very important to set the record straight. so, but we look at the investments that have taken place in those areas, we have the largest investment in water in storage and tertiary worlds electrification and secretary of the united nations they visited columbia last year in the fifth anniversary, he said the fifth anniversary, he said the implementation of the colombian peace process is a reference model for the world.

your political movement is backed by some of the most powerful land owners. they do not want the land reform that is supposed to be a part of the peace deal package in just a% of the accords and land reform measures are so far complete. is that because the land owners have you in the pocket? first of all, have you in the pocket? first of all. no _ have you in the pocket? first of all, no one _ have you in the pocket? first of all, no one has _ have you in the pocket? first of all, no one has me - have you in the pocket? first of all, no one has me in - have you in the pocket? firstj of all, no one has me in their pocket. and in order to talk facts and not gossip, we have granted 52,000 titles in my administration. that puts my administration. that puts my administration as the number one grantor of rural land titles and columbia�*s history and something that is very important. we have reached record highs of agricultural exports and the most important thing, stephen, the investment of tertiary roads that benefits all the businesses and colombian countries have reached record highs and

investments.— investments. community activist, _ investments. community activist, particularly - investments. community activist, particularly in i investments. community i activist, particularly in rural areas the campaign hardest for land reform, are you ashamed that the latest figure for the murders of social and community activists in columbia is 1a5 of them killed in 2021? the activists in columbia is 145 of them killed in 2021?- them killed in 2021? the sad thing about _ them killed in 2021? the sad thing about this, _ them killed in 2021? the sad thing about this, stephen i them killed in 2021? the sad thing about this, stephen is | thing about this, stephen is the ones who have been killing many of the social leaders have been the drug dealers. and even though we had a reduction in my administration on these killings, the numbers should be zero. �* killings, the numbers should be zero. ~ , ., killings, the numbers should be zero. �* i” ., . killings, the numbers should be zero. ., ., zero. are you ashamed leaving office with _ zero. are you ashamed leaving office with a — zero. are you ashamed leaving office with a sense _ zero. are you ashamed leaving office with a sense of- zero. are you ashamed leaving office with a sense of shame? | zero. are you ashamed leaving| office with a sense of shame? i think we all feel sad that it has produced so much damage but at the same time that we have captured and extradited the leaders of the groups who have made all these assassinations and also demonstrates that the

rule of law is always going to be harder on them and i should mention something. more coca is less peace and columbia which is what made such a strong commitment to stopping the exponential growth and that is why we have been dismantling many of these organisations that are produced so much damage to the colombian people. this interview is like an end of term report under presidency in one of the things you promised was to be columbia�*s and meyer try to make environmentalist president is president of columbia, you were very into the habitat of your beautiful country. in 2020, under your watch, beautiful country. in 2020, underyourwatch, more beautiful country. in 2020, under your watch, more than 171,000 hectares of forest were failed in columbia, how could you let that happen?- you let that happen? again, let's no you let that happen? again, let's go to — you let that happen? again, let's go to the _ you let that happen? again, let's go to the facts - you let that happen? again, let's go to the facts and - you let that happen? again, let's go to the facts and not | let�*s go to the facts and not the gossip. let's go to the facts and not the gossip-— let's go to the facts and not the gossip. untreated effects with ou. the gossip. untreated effects with you. you _

the gossip. untreated effects with you. you should - the gossip. untreated effects with you. you should not - the gossip. untreated effects with you. you should not be l with you. you should not be ignoring them. are you quarrelling.— ignoring them. are you quarrelling. ignoring them. are you aauarrellin. ., ., quarrelling. you looking at the facts, but _ quarrelling. you looking at the facts, but let _ quarrelling. you looking at the facts, but let me _ quarrelling. you looking at the facts, but let me tell- quarrelling. you looking at the facts, but let me tell you - quarrelling. you looking at the facts, but let me tell you the l facts, but let me tell you the facts, but let me tell you the facts are. for the first time in decades, deforestation levels came to reduction. in this year, we have a 30% of the colombian territories declared a protected area we have passed from 28 mw of nonconventional renewable capacities to 2800 mw by the end of the year and we have been highlighted as one of the countries that are taking a harder leadership reducing the omissions in columbia and it is been praised by the british government as an example in the 26th because we have created a programme that has allowed us to reduce deforestation levels and something that i feel very proud of is that we are able to create the payment for environmental services stop but you could have done more. let me finish, stephen, let me finish. if you invite me to an

interview but you don�*t like me to talk about the things that i think have a clear evidence and something that is very important to highlight is that columbia today is in a much better shape and environmental policies and one of the icons to be a constructed his staff a programme that has allowed for the first time in three decades to reduce the fastest level of deforestation rate we have in columbia. as a come to zero yet? no. of that reduction has put it in the direction to being zero to four station by 2030 which is the main goal that we have set.— 2030 which is the main goal that we have set. one of the main candidates _ that we have set. one of the main candidates in _ that we have set. one of the main candidates in the - that we have set. one of the - main candidates in the upcoming election has promised to massively scaled back oil exploration, coal production and will in fracking in columbia. you could�*ve done all of those things, why didn�*t you? of those things, why didn't ou? �* , ., . of those things, why didn't ou? �*, ., ., u, you? there's not a commercial frackin: you? there's not a commercial fracking in _ you? there's not a commercial fracking in columbia. - you? there's not a commercial fracking in columbia. we - you? there's not a commercial fracking in columbia. we have| fracking in columbia. we have done his scientific pilots just to address whether or not capable or not are taking place in columbia inside of these

columbia produces oil and that oil represents more than 30% of the direct investment in 80%. left when your country off of it. you will in 80% of the royalties invested, if columbia cuts down the oil production, what is going to happen is inflation is going to be a three dishes pretty soon we�*re going to lose all the income that generates to columbia. 50. that generates to columbia. so, ou will that generates to columbia. so, you will be _ that generates to columbia. 657, you will be submitted that generates to columbia. so, you will be submitted to something of that nature and another thing that is important is that columbia doesn�*t use oil to generate electricity, we export more than 50% of the oil we produce we have one of the cleanest energy matrixes and we have been being cleaner in my administration. and we look at deficit and all the economic indicators starting with economic growth, we have reached record highs and another to put on the table is that you look at 2022, we not only are reducing informality, were not reducing multidimensional poverty, we have reached oil and gas for

them to go almost 20% during my term. i them to go almost 2096 during my term. ., them to go almost 20% during my term. ., term. i mentioned the left candidate _ term. i mentioned the left candidate in _ term. i mentioned the left candidate in the _ term. i mentioned the left l candidate in the presidential election at the moment and they�*re going to be doing well in the polls and why does it seem you and you came from the right of colombian politics, why do you seem intent on doing all you can to ensure that he does not win that election? four years ago i defeated them and also to the other candidates who have very clear confrontations of ideas. you have clear — confrontations of ideas. you have clear indications - confrontations of ideas. you have clear indications that he was a sitting president to not get involved in electoral politics and get you are being sued by the corruption institute because they believe you have been trying to influence the selection —— anti—corruption. influence the selection -- anti-corruption.— influence the selection -- anti-corruption.- influence the selection -- anti-corruption. we don't talk about candidates, _ anti-corruption. we don't talk about candidates, i— anti-corruption. we don't talk about candidates, i don't - about candidates, i don�*t mention names, but what i do is when there is a policy debate,

i give my opinion and people don�*t like that whatever fruit to one of the biggest challenges of modern democracies which are the three p autocrats that have polarisation and populism, they feel they are intrepid by then if they feel like that, that�*s the problem. and any policy debate, any policy debate, i will certainly give my opinion on policy stuff but it�*s not just about policy debates but also the action you took signing off on a budget which allows the — signing off on a budget which allows the government - signing off on a budget which allows the government to - signing off on a budget which i allows the government to funnel more than $1 billion to local councils and private contractors specifically undermining the so—called guarantees law in your country. the constitutional court has decided that what you did was illegal. decided that what you did was ille . al. �* , �* decided that what you did was illeaal. �* , �* illegal. but they didn't say was a legal. _ illegal. but they didn't say was a legal, and _ illegal. but they didn't say was a legal, and i - illegal. but they didn't say was a legal, and i was - illegal. but they didn't say was a legal, and i was not| illegal. but they didn't say - was a legal, and i was not the one who approved it. it was approved by congress, by a vast majority. approved by congress, by a vast ma'ori . ., , approved by congress, by a vast majority-_ yes - majority. you signed it. yes

and i majority. you signed it. yes and i did — majority. you signed it. yes and i did because _ majority. you signed it. yes and i did because it - majority. you signed it. yes and i did because it was, i majority. you signed it. yes and i did because it was, it | and i did because it was, it was not a mistake and it was a process based and allowing low income communities, the same low income communities that you refer to so much, it was to crack local communities investment for waters, storage electricity and if you look at what the court said, all the investment on water, storage, electricity and access to all of services are not going to be affected by their decision. so, it�*s very interesting that when you book and what is really affecting the decision by the constitutional court, it�*s a minimal part of the process that were approved because those process * but hundreds of millions of dollars have been handed back because the courts have overturned your decision to about that money to be transferred. you should check paddington with your team because we look up with the court said, all the investments in water, sanitation, energy and access to health and education, they are not going

to be returned because they believe those mechanisms of the longest communities have those resources are sound according to the constitution. aha, resources are sound according to the constitution.— to the constitution. a final thought. _ to the constitution. a final thought, you're _ to the constitution. a final thought, you're about - to the constitution. a final thought, you're about to l to the constitution. a final - thought, you're about to leave thought, you�*re about to leave office as many colombians believe this could be a turning point election in columbia because you represent part of a ruling elite in your country thatis ruling elite in your country that is at a very firm grip on powerfor two centuries. that is at a very firm grip on power for two centuries. and the other represents a leftist, a former guerrilla and columbia could be making a revolutionary change. you think that might be good for your country? first change. you think that might be good for your country?— good for your country? first of all, i good for your country? first of all. i don't _ good for your country? first of all, i don't represent - good for your country? first of all, i don't represent any - all, i don�*t represent any elite whatsoever. i come from a middle income family. my father was the first person and his family to go to college. and i represented a generation that wanted to put a lot of things in place and we have done it. in the most interesting thing is that we look at the facts, having the largest growth,

reducing poverty and being able to put this in a greener agenda in the fourth industrial revolution for the year capturing all of the world in technology, that represents many things that we committed, we accomplished it. we have to face a pandemic live with the pandemic came, we left the country with 70% of the population dosed, 80% one dust and more for the booster shot and more for the booster shot and let me finish with this. and the economy recovered. when i said after the pandemic that we want to have massive vaccinations and the safe recovery. both things have been accomplished.— accomplished. president ivan du . ue, i accomplished. president ivan duque, i think _ accomplished. president ivan duque, i think you _ accomplished. president ivan duque, i think you very - accomplished. president ivan duque, i think you very much forjoining me on hardtalk.

hello. after the warmth of last week, when both scotland and england recorded their highest temperatures of the year so far, things are looking cooler this week, especially where it was so warm last week. it�*ll be breezier, windy by wednesday. it�*ll be wet at times, not all the time, mostly in the form of showers. a rather cloudy—looking picture for monday and messy on the chart here, with quite a few weather fronts around as well, so we are going to see some wet weather at times. this is how we start the day, this weather front here with cloud and some patchy rain stretching through parts of england. still raining into the north and northwest of scotland after a damp sunday. that rain, though, just beginning to fizzle out, allowing some brighter skies and a few showers. and elsewhere, although there will be a lot of cloud around, there will be a few bright spells, but notice the showers becoming more widespread late morning and into the afternoon, some heavy, perhaps with a rumble of thunder. an area of rain also for parts of southeast england and east anglia later in the day.

some uncertainty about how far north and west that will get, but don�*t get caught out by it, and it will make for a cooler day compared with sunday. and overnight and into tuesday, eastern areas most likely to see cloud and some outbreaks of rain. showers around elsewhere through england and wales. northern scotland and northern ireland becoming mainly dry, here with some clear spells and probably the lowest temperatures as tuesday begins. and then on tuesday, we will continue across some eastern areas to have some rain, perhaps initially toward southeast scotland and running southwards through the eastern side of england. elsewhere, it�*s a case of sunny spells, perhaps catching a shower. a lot of them fading, though, from western areas later in the day. and similar temperatures, a breezy day on tuesday. wednesday�*s looking like a windier day because one low pressure�*s moving away, another one�*s coming in, with weather fronts bringing another shot of wet weather from west to east during the day and lifting that wind. looks to be wettest in western scotland for a time, although even here, turning showery. the rain patchy the more further south you are. further showers following on behind, though. i think increasingly

dry and sunny towards the end of wednesday. a blustery day wherever you are. gusts in scotland, northern ireland, northern england perhaps around a0 mph or so. looks like we�*ll see another weather system coming in on thursday, with further outbreaks of rain pushing further south across the uk, before high pressure will settle things down for friday and, indeed, into next weekend. that�*s your latest forecast.

welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i�*m karishma vaswani. the headlines: president biden is on his first visit to japan since taking office, as the us seeks to bolster its regional influence against a rising china. we report on howjapan is boosting its own military, amid fears of chinese aggression towards taiwan. if china did try to invade taiwan, despite all of the impressive naval power on display here in tokyo bay, it is not clear at all whether the united states and its japanese allies now have the ability to stop them. i