The Spanish government Monday offered its full support for the forthcoming administration of Colombian President-elect Juan Manuel Santos and expressed a desire to “work together to achieve peace” in the Andean nation.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero offered his “warmest congratulations for [Santos’] ample victory in the presidential elections,” which took place on Sunday against Green Party candidate Antanas Mockus. He wished the “Uribista” “every success in his new office as president of the Republic of Colombia.”
The socialist leader went on to acknowledge the relationship between Colombia and Spain as having existed “for a long time and throughout all former Colombian governments.”
Zapatero pledged full commitment to the new Santos administration, saying “rest assured that you will always find the government of Spain ready to continue to deepen the special relationship of cooperation and friendship between our countries and our peoples.”
Santos, the successor to outgoing president Alvaro Uribe, was elected on Sunday with 69.05% of the vote, compared to the 27.52% won by his Green Party opponent Mockus. The Sunday election saw abstention rates of around 55.52%, according to reports from the electoral authorities.
Santos will take office on August 7.