Green Party members annouce support for criticized party president

Members of Colombia’s Green Party have come out in support of party president Luis Eduardo Garzon after a senator called for his resignation Tuesday.

The public statement read, “The members of the national board and the delegation of congressmen for the Green Party, we reaffirm our commitment, solidarity and support for our president and spokesman Lucho Garzon, who was voted for by the whole of the national board for his political, social and personal abilities and qualities.”

The Green Party members described his service in the role as “impeccable,” and said that he had gone about his work as a party president should — “relations with the regions have been fluid and permanent interaction with the national government has been transparent, always keeping face with the party and the country […] He was critical when the circumstances warranted it and supported the government on issues of national and international significance when it was deserved.”

The statement of support for Garzon came after senator John Sudarsky called for the resignation of the Green Party leader Tuesday. Sudarsky said he should step down following his failure to expand Bogota’s Transmilenio bus network during his mayorship in 2007. The senator — also of the Green Party — claimed that had Garzon completed the improvements then the amount of social unrest towards the transport system would have been reduced. “The mess we have today would have been greatly minimized,” Sudarsky said.

House representative Alfonso Prada has since asked Sudarsky if he wishes to stay within the party following the large show of support for Garzon, wishing to make clear “if he is in the Green Party or will be more of a sniper […] if he is to discredit the work carried out by the Green Party.”

Prada himself voiced his support for Garzon, stating that he “has done a good job in his relationship with the congress and the bench.”

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