ComradeRobertRiley
27th October 2003, 13:33
Euro News - Leftist Mayor (http://www.euronews.net/create_html.php?page=detail_info&lng=1&option=3,info&PHPSESSID=3907d3e5111d606c488b733b1ec5d91e)
Leftist becomes Colombia mayor
A former communist has been elected mayor of Colombia's capital, Bogota. The victory of Luis Eduardo Garzon deals a second body blow to the country's conservative president, who is also facing failure in a crucial referendum. Triumph for the ex-trade union leader gives a loud voice on the national stage to a leading critic of President Alvaro Uribe. But, as he savoured his victory with supporters, Bogota's new mayor appeared to reach out to the national leader.
"I am ready for discussions and the place to start is obviously with President Uribe," Garzon told reporters. His conciliatory tone, however, will do nothing to lessen the impact of a weekend of disaster for the president. In the troubled country's other big vote at the weekend, a referendum was held that was hailed as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reduce corruption, save money for schools and hospitals and avoid an Argentine-style economic collapse. But, with almost all the votes counted, President Uribe appears not to have won the public support he was looking for.
Leftist becomes Colombia mayor
A former communist has been elected mayor of Colombia's capital, Bogota. The victory of Luis Eduardo Garzon deals a second body blow to the country's conservative president, who is also facing failure in a crucial referendum. Triumph for the ex-trade union leader gives a loud voice on the national stage to a leading critic of President Alvaro Uribe. But, as he savoured his victory with supporters, Bogota's new mayor appeared to reach out to the national leader.
"I am ready for discussions and the place to start is obviously with President Uribe," Garzon told reporters. His conciliatory tone, however, will do nothing to lessen the impact of a weekend of disaster for the president. In the troubled country's other big vote at the weekend, a referendum was held that was hailed as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reduce corruption, save money for schools and hospitals and avoid an Argentine-style economic collapse. But, with almost all the votes counted, President Uribe appears not to have won the public support he was looking for.