Presidential and Legislative Elections in Colombia in 2022

Objective/context: This introductory article to the dossier on Legislative and Presidential Elections 2022 of Colombia Internacional seeks to describe important features of the 2022 electoral campaign, as well as present the configuration of the party system based on the results of both legislative and presidential elections. The goal is to provide a general context of national elections, complementing the specific contributions and findings of the articles that make up this issue. Methodology: This article proposes a reading of the 2022 election results based on both some electoral data and indices as well as a qualitative look at what happened in those elections and how it may relate to the local elections of 2023. Conclusions: Some reflections are offered on both the possible impact of the composition of forces in national elections on local elections, and on executive-legislative relations resulting from the new configuration of the party system and the implementation of the Opposition Statute. Originality: This issue presents readings of elections that emphasize citizens' political behavior and move away from traditional emphasis on political parties.