Colombia’s former defense minister, Marta Lucia Ramirez, on Wednesday announced she will run for president in 2014 as a member of the Conservative Party.
In a letter addressed to Conservative party leader Efrain Cepeda, Ramirez expressed her intention to run. In the letter, the former minister of defense said that she “had met with leaders committed to the strengthening of the state” and told them and her former boss, the controversial Alvaro Uribe, that hopefully by April, the Conservative party will chosen a candidate.
Ramirez also recommended that the Conservative party form a coalition with the new party created by Uribe, the Centro Democratico party.
“What is crucial is a process within the Conservative party to try…and seek an alliance with the [Centro Democratico party to take part in a] national coalition driven by the belief in guaranteeing human [rights] and [ensuring] security for all Colombians,” said Ramirez.
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Just the second woman in Latin America to serve as minister of defense, Ramirez also held office as minister of foreign trade and as Colombia’s embassador to France. She is a lawyer by training and directs a consulting firm, Marta Lucia Ramirez & Associates.
Ramirez on Wednesday tweeted, “I hope to inagurate vindication for the Conservative party. I am there and I will continue to work with Uribe and others.”