Colombia’s largest rebel group FARC does not rule out presenting a candidate in the 2014 Colombian presidential elections, if peace talks with the government progress.
In an interview with newspaper El Espectador, FARC emissary, Jesus Emilio Carvajalino, alias “Andres Paris”, said that “If the peace process continues and generate the political conditions to participate in elections, we could think of that possibility.”
“We aspire to elect a candidate that emanates from the political forces that gave birth to the peace process.”
Carvajalino stressed that FARC is not affiliated with any political party currently in Colombian politics. “We know that political forces are rising from the center, the left and the right, and absolutely none have links with the FARC. We will create our own political strength.”
The FARC will begin formal peace talks with the government on October 8. According to a pre-agreement between the rebels and the authorities, the parties strive to allow the country’s oldest guerrilla organization take part in politics in exchange of laying down arms.