German Vargas Lleras, leader of coalition party Cambio Radical, is
trying to keep his party from imploding by approaching congressmen from
other parties to join him. A number of members of Cambio Radical are
expected to join parties that support Uribe and not Vargas Lleras for president in 2010
House Representative Carlos Fernando Motoa told newspaper El Espectador that Vargas
Lleras has been approaching congressmen from the Partido de la U and
the Liberal Party.
“Cambio Radical doesn’t pressure its activists or the members of public corporations
who are part of the party. Our party members participate
willingly and because they believe in German Vargas Lleras,” asserted
Motoa.
However Motoa added that the door is open for anyone who wants to leave his party, which was made possible by Congress Wednesday, when voting in favor of the possibility for Congressmen to leave their party, while keeping their seat and salary.
Cambio Radical has supported President Alvaro Uribe in the last two elections presidential elections. The party was created in 1998 when members separated from the Colombian Liberal Party, but Vargas Lleras is persistent in running for the 2010 Presidency himself, leading to friction within his own party.