March 08, 2006

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Scan) - Álvaro Uribe remains the candidate in beat in Colombia's presidential election, according to a poll by Datexco Company published in El Tiempo. 53.9 per cent of respondents would vote for the incumbent in this year's ballot.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Álvaro Uribe remains the candidate in beat in Colombia's presidential election, according to a poll by Datexco Company published in El Tiempo. 53.9 per cent of respondents would vote for the incumbent in this year's ballot.

Organization of American States (OAS) ambassador Horacio Serpa is second with 20.1 per cent, followed by former Constitutional Court president Carlos Gaviria and senator Antonio Navarro Wolff of the Democratic Independent Pole (PDI) with 3.5 per cent each, former Bogotá mayor Antanas Mockus with 2.8 per cent, former defence minister Rafael Pardo with 2.1 per cent, and senator Rodrigo Rivera with 1.8 per cent.

The Liberal Party (PL) will choose its nominee after the Mar. 12 legislative election. Serpa, Pardo and Rivera are considered the main contenders. The presidential ballot is scheduled for May 28.

Uribe took office in August 2002, after winning the presidential election as a semi-independent candidate under the Colombia First (PC) banner with 53.1 per cent of all cast ballots. The head of state—who had been a member of the PL—has remained popular despite failing in his bid to achieve constitutional changes through a referendum in 2003.

In November 2004, the Colombian House of Representatives voted 113-16 to pass legislation that would allow presidential re-election in the South American country. Last October, the Constitutional Court officially sanctioned the plan.

Yesterday, Uribe criticized armed group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for freeing two police officers a few days before the legislative election. The president referred to the act as "human trafficking with electoral goals."

Former president and PL leader César Gaviria Trujillo disagreed with Uribe, saying, "The guerrilla members have evidently committed barbaric acts, but this gesture brings joy to a family that had little news about its loved ones."

Polling Data

Who would you vote for in the 2006 presidential election?

Álvaro Uribe	53.9%
Horacio Serpa	20.1%
Carlos Gaviria	3.5%
Antonio Navarro Wolf	3.5%
Antanas Mockus	2.8%
Rafael Pardo	2.1%
Rodrigo Rivera	1.8%

Source: Datexco Company / El Tiempo
Methodology: Interviews with 1,200 Colombian adults in 43 municipalities, conducted from Feb. 8 to Feb. 24, 2006. Margin of error is 2.9 per cent.