The newly appointed Mayor of Bogota, Maria Mercedes Maldonado has met with the former inter-rim Mayor Rafael Pardo on Tuesday morning to discuss the most pressing issues facing the Colombian capital, reported Colombia’s Caracol Radio Tuesday.
Maria Mercedes Maldonado was appointed mayor of Bogota by President Juan Manuel Santos on Monday.
She will take over for Pardo who had functioned as Bogota’s highest public official since March 19 when Santos removed Gustavo Petro from office.
This is the latest development in a story that began in December 2013 when Colombia’s Inspector General Ordoñez ordered the dismissal of Petro from the second most important elected position in Colombia due to “irregularities” while reforming the capital city’s garbage collection system.
Santos has claimed that Petro’s removal was consistent with all Colombian laws, according to Caracol.
Maldonado and Pardo reportedly focused their discussion on mobility and security issues in the Colombian capital to ensure a successful transfer of power.
PROFILE: Maria Mercedes Maldonado
The new mayor had been the Secretary of Planning under Petro’s administration. She has a background in law and urban planning and even served as Bogota’s mayor for several days in July 2012 when Petro had to leave the city to attend a funeral.
MORE: Santos ignores international court ruling, replaces Bogota mayor
Sources
- María Mercedes Maldonado and Rafael Pardo started splicing (Caracol Radio)
- Alcaldesa (e) de Bogotá no tiene aspiraciones políticas y dice que gobernará con criterio técnic (RCN Radio)
