Peñalosa supports continuing FARC peace talks

The candidate of the left-leaning Green Alliance, Enrique Peñalosa, said that if elected president he will continue with ongoing peace talks with rebel group FARC, reported local media on Thursday morning.Enrique Peñalosa, the former  Bogota mayor said he would keep the current governmental team led by Humberto De la Calle, which has been negotiating with Colombia’s largest armed group, FARC, in Havana, Cuba since November 2012.

“We support the peace process with the FARC and I support the [current] negotiating team because we consider it appropriate and responsible,” he said.

Possible President

Two major polls in as many weeks have found that voters would likely elect Peñalosa President in run-off election with current President Juan Manuel Santos in June, if there was no clear winner in the ballot in May. Peñalosa and the President both support the peace talks.

MORE: Peñalosa would beat Santos in 2nd round of Colombia’s election: Poll

The candidate for former President Alvaro Uribe’s Democratic Center party, is the third most likely president in most recent polls, but he has called for an end to the peace talks immediately.

MORE: Zuluaga demands end of Colombia peace talks after policemen murdered

About Enrique Peñalosa

Enrique Peñalosa was chosen as the Green Alliance Candidate on March 9′s internal elections that coincided with Colombia’s congressional elections.

He was mayor of Bogota from 1998 to 2001 but has not been elected to a public office since despite several attempts.  Formerly a member of the Green party, Peñalosa is now the candidate for the Green Alliance, the party formed by the unity of the Green party and Progressive party in 2013.

Sources

Peñalosa prometió ratificar equipo negociador con las Farc si es elegido presidente (El Espectador)

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