Colombia holds a presidential election on May 30. Recent polls show a lead for Green Party nominee Antanas Mockus. See this story. Mockus has 39% and his closest competitor, Juan Manuel Santos of the Unity Party, has 34%.
If no one gets as much as 50%, there will be a run-off on June 20. The Green Party has enjoyed electoral success in many nations around the world, but it has never before actually had an office-holder in any nation who was head of government.
I wonder what the ballot access and other related rules are like over their? Is the boost to the Greens due to the economy? or something else.
Colombia wants a president from a party that is not tainted by past atrocities. The candidate who is running 2nd has some past association with government military activity that mistreated innocent civilians.
Thanks for this news.
Great Green Party story…amazing..
The Colombian Green Party calls itself a centrist party.
In fact, their candidate was the running mate of the current Conservative Party presidential candidate when she ran as an independent in 1998.
Also, he has endorsed the currents president hawkish defense policy.
The main reason the Green Party is doing so well is people are mad about corruption.
It certainly has nothing to do with a rejection of Uribe’s defense policies.
Also, a new party breaking through in Colombia isn’t really that big a deal anymore.
It was when Uribe first did it in 2002. Now, eh.
Before the Greens took off, everyone expected the Conservatives to come in second place at best.
The Liberals have been totally dead in the water this campaign season too, they haven’t even cracked 10% in any poll.
In the last 2 elections, the Conservatives didn’t even run, giving unofficial backing to Uribe. The Liberals were beaten in 3rd last time by a new social democratic party.