The leader of Colombia’s Conservative Party on Friday rejected a possible alliance with the yet-to-be-founded party of former President Alvaro Uribe.
In an interview with W Radio, conservative leader Efrain Cepeda said his party will enter the 2014 congressional and presidential elections with its own candidates.
According to Cepeda, his party is an “adult party with a 163-year history that will not tie itself to one that doesn’t even exist yet.”
Uribe, who is no longer eligible for the presidency after having served two terms, has been opposing the government of his successor, President Juan Manuel Santos, from the right. Supporters of the former president hope to form a party consisting of Uribe-loyal members of Santos’ U Party and the Conservative Party.
PROFILE: Alvaro Uribe
One prominent Conservative Party member and Uribe loyalist, former Minister Marta Lucia Ramirez, has already anounced she wants to be running for the 2014-2018 presidency.
However, according to Cepeda, his party is likely to bring forth its proper candidate while its elected congressmen might return to a coalition led by Santos, if elected.