All eyes are on four Colombian politicians who are aiming to keep the 2014 presidency out of the hands of anyone associated with the divisive former president Alvaro Uribe.
German Vargas Lleras, the current minister of housing, presents the most formidable foe to both Uribe’s new Centro Democratico party and the incumbent, Juan Manuel Santos.
BACKGROUND: Name of Uribe’s new political party is misleading: Congressman
The comparatively fresh faces of David Luna Sanchez, Carlos Fernando Galan and Cristina Plazas have also been labeled as potential challengers to the Uribe machine.
In order to run for president in Colombia, the candidates must leave the government at least a year in advance. The aforementioned politicians are considering resigning from their various public offices in order to satisy this requirement.
Vargas Lleras, a seasoned politician from the Radical Change party, comes from one of Colombia’s most influential political families. As housing minister, he is responsible for overseeing an ambitious
Although current president Juan Manuel Santos’ approval rating spiked earlier this week, nonetheless, the moves of these four potential candidates will be watched with great interest.
BACKGROUND: Santos’ popularity bounces back: Poll
BACKGROUND: Santos wants to be remembered for respect for freedom, rights