Colombia Poised to Vote for Continuity

Colombia Poised to Vote for Continuity

BOGOTÁ -- If the opinion polls are any indication, Colombians will vote for continuity rather than change as the country elects its president in run-off voting on Sunday.

Barring a major surprise, Juan Manuel Santos, former defense minister and heir-apparent to the hardline polices of outgoing conservative President Alvaro Uribe, is poised to become the next Colombian president. The latest polls give Santos a seemingly insurmountable lead of 66 percent to 27 percent, over his rival and two-time Bogotá mayor, Antanus Mockus.

During first-round voting last month, Santos won nearly 47 percent of the vote, just shy of an outright victory. Since then, he has formed alliances with the main pro-Uribe parties, the Conservative and Radical Change parties, which should guarantee support from center-right voters. It should also ensure him a resounding majority in Colombia's Congress and Senate should he win, analysts say.

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