Fajardo and Uribista blocs vie for power in Colombia

Subject

Election preparations.

Significance

On December 10, the centre-left Coalition Colombia (CC) alliance announced that Sergio Fajardo would be its candidate in the May 2018 presidential elections. The same day, the Democratic Centre (CD) of former President Alvaro Uribe (2002-10) selected Ivan Duque as its contender. Duque will now face Marta Lucia Ramirez, of the Conservative Party, to decide who will lead the centre-right electoral coalition formed in advance of the vote. Despite the respectable poll ratings of several other candidates, the contest looks likely to become a race between the Fajardo and Uribista coalitions.

Impacts

• FARC presidential candidate Rodrigro Londono Echeverri has negligible support in polls, and is unlikely to do well.
• Duque’s popularity may rise as campaigning advances and more people become aware that he is Uribe’s candidate.
• Pension and public spending reforms will be needed under the next government to reduce the deficit and comply with statutory fiscal rules.