Ingrid Betancourt had a 24 per cent approval rating when Farc kidnapped her as she campaigned as an independent for the presidency in an area of high guerrilla presence in 2002.

By Thursday, Colombian political observers were estimating the former Senator and anti-corruption activist’s stock was far higher – La Semana magazine put it at 70 per cent – fuelling speculation that the diminutive Franco-Colombian may consider running again in 2010.