Ethiopian Journal

The Colombia Constitutional Court has ruled against a referendum that would allow current President Alvaro Uribe to run for a third term as president in the May elections. The decision has received mixed reactions, with many fearing a return to instability and violence. Uribe, whose popularity has remained above 60% for most of his eight years in office, is credited for recent successes in the government’s conflict with FARC and the ELN thanks to his Democratic Security, stabilising the economy, and drawing investment into the country. 

The decision marks the true start of the election race in Colombia. Favoured to win is Juan Manuel Santos, former minister of defence and the candidate backed by Uribe’s social national unity party. Additionally, Sergio Fajardo, the former mayor of Medellin respected for his actions against the narcoguerrillas, Rafael Pardo of the liberal party, and Noemi Sanin, another former defence minister, are gaining in the polls. Regardless of who wins, the next Colombian president will need to improve relations with neighbours, increase state provision in rural areas, and tackle rising unemployment in the wake of recession, if they hope to continue to gain ground against the Marxist insurgency and disrupt the drugs trade.