MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Colombian president Santos announces he will seek second term
“I clearly want the policies we have been promoting to continue beyond Aug. 7, 2014” said Santos Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos gave advance notice Friday that he will seek a second term in the 2014 elections, though he added that, in compliance with the law, he will not make the formal announcement until six months prior to the vote.
“I wish to tell all of you that, yes, I clearly want the policies we have been promoting to continue beyond Aug. 7, 2014,” Santos said, referring to the final day of his current four-year term.
In the same speech, the president also announced the reactivation of the Good Government Fund, dormant since he became president, and the forming of its new board of directors, to be presided over by Housing Minister German Vargas Lleras.
Other members of the new board of directors include presidential chief of staff Juan Mesa, former National Police director Oscar Naranjo and former Foreign Minister Maria Emma Mejia.
Vargas Lleras and Mesa will have to leave the administration in order to “assume responsibilities in defense of the work of a government in which they believe and for which they have worked with great dedication,” Santos said.
“I don't want the positive and profound changes that we are making left stranded halfway to completion, or, even worse, that we go back to where we were before,” the president said.
The next presidential election will be held on May 25, 2014, but the law does not permit the candidacy for reelection to be announced until six months before.
Santos's presidency has been noteworthy for the peace process that began in November 2012 in Havana with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, for the purpose of ending the armed conflict that has exhausted the country for more than half a century
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Read all comments““I don't want the positive and profound changes that we are making left stranded halfway to completion, or, even worse, that we go back to where we were before,” the president said.”
May 18th, 2013 - 01:20 pm 0Could be a good catchphrase for Cristinita =) Btw how is the (I think very bad) proposal to move to 6 year terms going? Most importantly hope the peace process stays on track
Colombia:
May 19th, 2013 - 06:04 am 0High growth, low inflation, dropping poverty, growing international presence, strong currency, increasing forex reserves, booming exports, rising oil production, massive foreign investment.
Argentina:
The opposite.
Yes I think there is lots and lots CFK could learn from Colombia.
#2 Yes, she should really emulate the capitalist paradise that has been in a state of civil war continually for half a century, had a fascist leader until 2010, is the most dangerous place on earth to be a journalist or trade unionist; yes, she should just chuck her commitment to human rights and social justice and be more like Columbia, lol!
May 20th, 2013 - 02:53 pm 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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