Mockus quits Green Party over Uribe support

[gbscar]

Mockus quits Green Party over Uribe support
Friday, 10 June 2011 09:00
Tom Heyden

Colombian former presidential candidate Anatanas Mockus has resigned from the Green Party over the acceptance of ex-President Alvaro Uribe's support by Bogota mayoral hopeful Enrique Peñalosa.

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For Mockus, it was a case of the scandals that emerged toward the end of the Uribe administration, such as "false positives," false demobilizations and wiretapping, causing him to feel that any association with Uribe would be a betrayal of everything the party stands for.

Although recognizing the achievements of Uribe's government, Mockus stated that many things were done "at the expense of limits established in the constitution," he told El Espectador after his resignation Thursday evening, adding that, ultimately, "there are things I cannot digest."

He said that he does not wish to offend or reproach anyone but expressed his dismay that the question of Uribe's support was never discussed internally by the party, constituting what he deems as a lack of "loyalty to the community."

Peñalosa himself lamented the resignation of Mockus, stating that "I feel sad because it would have been very valuable to count on him in the campaign," before urging the party to concentrate upon winning the elections.

"In times of crisis the public will notice the difference ...Bogota would be very different today if four years ago I had won the election and not Samuel Moreno, ," said Peñalosa, who is seeking his second term as mayor.

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http://www.colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/16880-mockus-quits-green-party-over-uribe-support.html

Commment:

It looks like Uribe's tactic of endorsing Peñalosa to "divide and conquer" the Green Party has been unfortunately successful. Still, that's not exactly too surprising for anyone who had been following all of these developments lately. While Mockus wasn't too strongly anti-Uribe in terms of public policy, he definitely was quite opposed to him in terms of personal and political ethics. Certainly more than many of the other ranking members of the party, in fact, as this outcome has proven.

Right now it's likely, though not entirely certain, Mockus may eventually end up supporting Gustavo Petro's campaign. Which is a little ironic, because Mockus ultimately had to reject any possible alliance with Petro after the first round of the 2010 elections, but still curiously appropriate. After all, they both left their respective parties even if it was for different reasons.

[Judi Lynn]

1. What a shame Uribe is insinuating himself into the Green Party via Peñalosa.

Sounds like he's trying to launder his record by associating with people who still have ideals. Horrendous.

http://www.semana.com.nyud.net:8090/photos/1452/ImgArticulo_T1_70060_2010227_151218.jpg

Peñalosa is standing to Mockus' left shoulder.