The Colombian government reformed its election security plan Tuesday, placing the Interior Ministry in charge of protecting all political candidates.
Colombian media reported that all security policies will be unified under the ministry, which will coordinate with DAS and the National Police to provide protection to municipalities that have been identified as high-risk areas.
Interior Minister German Vargas Lleras has explained that the government cannot give individual protection to every candidate in the October elections, but that they give higher priority to those who have already received threats.
“People who are at high risk are given special protection, but they can and they must understand that we are going to emphasize those municipalities where the situations have previously been determined as the most risk for the candidates,” explained Vargas Lleras in early August.
The ministry has already identified 72 high-risk municipalities, which will be prioritized for protection.