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Colombians Ponder Options Besides Uribe
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Voters in Colombia believe Organization of American States (OAS) ambassador Horacio Serpa would be the best presidential candidate for the Colombian Liberal Party (PLC) in the 2006 presidential election, according to a poll by YanHaas released by Radio RCN. 20.8 per cent of respondents would like Serpa to become the PLC's nominee.
Former Bogota mayor Enrique Peñalosa is second on the list with 19.8 per cent, followed by former president César Gaviria with 12.3 per cent. Support is lower for former attorney general Alfonso Gómez Méndez, former foreign affairs minister Rodrigo Pardo, former agriculture minister Cecilia López and senator Rodrigo Rivera. The next presidential election is tentatively scheduled for May 2006.
Álvaro 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 PLC member—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. The Constitutional Court must review the proposal before it comes into effect. A ruling is expected in the second half of 2005.
Polling Data
Which of these politicians would you prefer as the presidential candidate for the Colombian Liberal Party (PLC) in the 2006 election?
Horacio Serpa | 20.8% |
Enrique Peñalosa | 19.8% |
César Gaviria | 12.3% |
Alfonso Gómez Méndez | 1.8% |
Rodrigo Pardo | 1.6% |
Cecilia López | 1.3% |
Rodrigo Rivera | 0.5% |
Not sure | 10.0% |
None | 31.8% |
Source: YanHaas / Radio RCN
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 600 Colombian adults in the cities of Barranquilla, Bogota, Bucaramanga, Cali and Medellin, conducted on Jun. 13, 2005. Margin of error is 4 per cent.