Colombia - Politics

Rivera in all his pomp

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/21/v-fullstory/2335707/colombian-politics-remains-a-deadly.html

I was reminded of this article by the news today that the Defence Minister Rodrigo Rivera resigned citing a decline in the security situation and a rise in FARC activity. Security could yet be the defining issue of the Juan Manual Santos regime. It would be an irony indeed.



Santos came to power largely due to the support of ex-President Uribe. Santos appeared to promise - while running for election - a continuation of the Uribe doctrine. This doctrine placed security at the heart of everything. Uribe was hailed as the president who improved security in the country, and in doing so, transformed the image of Colombia abroad.

Once in power, however, Santos decided to chart a very different path from that of his predecessor. Santos presented himself as the post security president. His argument was simple - that the country had other problems to solve. And setting about solving these problems has made Santos a popular president. Since assuming the throne in August 2010, Santos has consistently enjoyed support in the 80%.

However, in recent months, attention has started to turn once more to the issue of security, and blows against the Santos regime are starting to land.

Pinzon - the patriot

All eyes, then, are on the new Defence minister, and what he does to calm his compatriots' insecurity. Santos himself of course was Defence minister in Uribe's government. The president must now hope that the new minister Juan Carlos Pinzon does for the Santos government what Santos did for the Uribe government. JMS will need to have faith in his new man. Pinzon's appointment is unsurprising - he used to be the president's chief of staff.