MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Colombian president warns about proposals to raise taxes

Antanas Mockus the extravagant candidate that has sent shock waves to Uribe’s political organization

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Wednesday sharply criticized campaign proposals to raise taxes, warning that this could “severely damage” what has been achieved, reports El Espectador.

Though the president did not refer to a candidate by name, Green Party candidate Antanas Mockus has promised to raise taxes if elected.

“The chains and burdens of taxes will only kill investment and employment opportunities... this scares investment and severely damages what has been achieved in the past,” Uribe said.

According to Uribe, the proposals signify a desire to “return to the economic order of the past,” which left Colombia with little investment. The outgoing president warned that, “We have to be very careful, some of the proposals that one hears of removing investment stimuli scare me a lot.”

Uribe's warning against tax hikes appear to be an veiled jab at Green Party candidate Antanas Mockus, who is fighting a close race against Partido de la U's Juan Manuel Santos, whom many consider to be Uribe's unofficial protégé.

Mockus has promised throughout his campaign to raise taxes.

Regarding security, Uribe said that he is “worried over the proposals that he hears about wanting to return to dialogue” with the “narco-terrorists.”

The president warned that the country cannot return to the time of “consenting to the kidnappers” in reference to the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces guerrillas.

While Mockus has insisted that he will not negotiate with the FARC under current conditions, Uribe has nonetheless criticized him in the past for his stance on security.

On Tuesday, Uribe also stressed the importance of maintaining a strong security policy, arguing that “the fight cannot be suspended. Colombians must remember what has happened and what could still happen.”

On Monday, Uribe warned against change on his Twitter page, urging Colombians to not “change the hen that cares for the three eggs of security, confidence in investment, and social policy, because the change might damage them.”

Uribe, who under Colombian law is not allowed to interfere in the elections, said three weeks ago that, “I am keeping quiet, but not calm” in regards to the presidential elections on May 30 and a possible June 20 runoff if none of the two main candidates garners 50% of ballots plus one.

Public opinion polls show a technical draw between Mockus and Santos.