The conservative coalition that successfully sought the rejection of a peace accord in Colombia in 2016 will unitedly support “uribista” candidate Ivan Duque.
Former Defense Minister Marta Lucia Ramirez and former Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez agreed to abandon their own ambitions in a last-minute pact, they said Monday.
Ramirez will become the running mate of former President Alvaro Uribe‘s heir. Ordoñez’ role is unclear.
Duque and Ramirez will have to challenge centrist candidate Sergio Fajardo and socialist candidate Gustavo Petro, who are widely believed to be leading the race.
The coalition could mean the end of ambitions of former Vice-President German Vargas, who has also been trying to lure conservative voters.
Electoral preference (125 days until first round)
- Sergio Fajardo (16.6%)
- Gustavo Petro (14.2%)
Marta Lucia Ramirez (6.9%)- Ivan Duque (6.8%)
- German Vargas (6.6%)
- Humberto de la Calle (6.3%)
- Clara Lopez (6.1%)
- Juan Manuel Galan (3.9%)
Alejandro Ordoñez (2.3%)- Rodrigo Londoño (1.4%)
- Juan Carlos Pinzon (1.2%)
- Viviane Morales (1.1%)
- Piedad Cordoba (1.1%)
Source: Datexco
Duque’s Democratic Center Party and the two Conservative Party dissidents had until Sunday to come to an agreement, but could not find compromise until early Monday.
None of the candidates seemed to have the electoral clout that could secure a position in a run-off election.
Colombia will take to the polls twice this year. The first round of the presidential election is in May. A new congress is elected in March already.