Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos and prominent members of his Partido de la U on Thursday denied rumors that the party is divided over supporting the government’s proposals.
The president met with congressmen from la U after prominent members in his party had criticized government proposals and had met with former President Alvaro Uribe to discuss legislation regarding the return of land to victims of paramilitary violence, which Santos plans to carry out differently than his predecessor.
But according to party President Juan Lozano, one of the congressmen who previously questioned Santos’ changes to Uribe’s policy, the criticism does not mean that the party is divided or is not supporting the government.
“We are not opposing the government’s initiatives. We are improving the legislative agenda and are working with the social agenda of the president,” the lawmaker was quoted as saying by Radio Santa Fe.
“In Congress we have approved the proposals after improving them. There is no division in La U, between Uribism and Santism and we are not going to fall in that trap,” Lozano added.
“The party is united. I see them firmly behind the projects that are so important to Colombians,” Santos said following the meeting.
