Former Bogota mayor Antanas Mockus’ announcement to take part in the Bogota mayoral elections has caused a landslide in a weekly poll that puts him virtually next to his main rival, the also-former Bogota mayor, Enrique Peñalosa.
Socialist Gustavo Petro, who in most polls held previously was just behind Peñalosa, leads the latest poll published in newspaper El Tiempo Sunday. The former senator receives the support of 16.44% of the respondents.
Mockus, who hasn’t begun campaigning yet, received the support of 14.58% of the interviewees, and is now just behind Peñalosa who received the support of 14.71%. Fourth in the race is Carlos Fernando Galan, son of the murdered Luis Carlos Galan, who received the support of 12.66%.
Because of the margin of error of 3.7%, the four candidates are in a virtual draw.
The newspaper also released poll results in other major cities.
In Medellin, the country’s second largest city, former governor Anibal Gaviria (Liberal Party) has the support of 43.49% and has a 13 percentage-point lead over former mayor Luis Perez, who has failed to receive the support of any political party.
In Cali, the country’s third largest city, former FARC hostage Sigifredo Lopez (Liberal Party) has the support of 14.63% and is only a fraction ahead of independent candidate Rodrigo Guerrero Velasco (12.67%) and the candidate of the socialist Polo Democratico, Olympic champion Maria Isabel Urrutia (12.28%)
Colombia will take to the polls on October 30 to elect governors, mayors, deputies and members of city council.
