Colombia’s Conservative party will put its primary electoral focus on next year’s congressional election rather than a run for the presidency, the party told President Juan Manuel Santos Thursday.
In an attempt to focus all of its efforts towards the congressional campaign, the Conservative party has decided to suspend primary candidate searches in favor of putting full support behind Santos.
The party sent a letter to the presidential palace affirming the Conservatives’ collective decision to stand in support of Santos despite having presidential primary candidates of its own.
In the letter, the party said that it was “premature” to consider the applications of presidential candidates Marta Lucia Ramirez and Jose Felix Lafaurie and would instead focus on the congressional campaign.
This decision by the conservatives contradicts statements recently made by the party’s newly elected president, who has previously said that he wanted his party to be “more of a locomotive than a side car.”
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The message reportedly said that “party members reaffirm their support for the Government which is lead by Juan Manuel Santos and continue to work in the pursuit of peace and prosperity.”
As a gesture of good will to Santos, the message was delivered directly to the presidential palace, where the President personally received the letter.