Friday, 29 June 2012

A Colombian revolution? Nation turns on political class

And justice for all?
In the face of overwhelming public opposition Juan Manuel Santos' government was this week forced to ditch one of its most prized pieces of legislative reform. Reaction to the Justice Reform bill has caused a constitutional crisis threatening to take the government, the congress and the political class with it. 

The bill passed by congress early last week was supposed to represent the culmination of two years of hard legislative graft; the government's centrepiece reform of this congressional session. At the 11th hour, however, a committee of congressmen hijacked the reforms, introducing clauses that would have generated chaos in Colombia's justice system.

Monday, 25 June 2012

Ex-President Alvaro Uribe's route back to power

Londono bloodied by FARC attack
Supporters of Ex-President Alvaro Uribe are set to form a new political movement in Colombia this 5 July. The inauguration of 'The Front against Terrorism', a coalition of ostensibly right-wing political figures, will take place at the famous and exclusive El Nogal club in Bogota.

The group's formation is a statement of intent - against the Santos government. Is it also Uribe's route back to power?

Saturday, 23 June 2012

Pablo Escobar, The Lord of Evil, and the politics of memory


'The Lord of Evil', Caracol Television's dramatisation of the life of Pablo Escobar is the first time that Colombian television has attempted an in-depth exploration of the most violent and successful criminal of the 20th century.

Over the course of 60 hours, The Lord of Evil, will retell the rags to riches story of the man that brought cocaine to the masses, and who threatened to bring down the Colombian state. In 1989, Escobar was the world's seventh richest man, and his Medellin Cartel was responsible for over 80% of the world's cocaine trade.

Wednesday, 6 June 2012

Gustavo Petro - a useless or ruthless Mayor of Bogota?

Transport - the Mayor's priority
Gustavo Petro is a ruthless politician, or he is a useless one. The Mayor of Bogota faces heavy criticism today for his decision - only five months into his mandate - to demanded the mass resignation of his cabinet. 

According to most commentators, the Petro administration is in crisis. These critics point to a string of high-profile departures (even before last night's political massacre) in particular to Antonio Navarro's (effectively his second in command) sudden exit three months in, and conclude that Petro is unable to run a government.

Friday, 1 June 2012

Angelino - Colombia's curious vice-president

Angelino Garzon is a curious politician: A man of the left in a government of the right; a vice-president who is openly considering running against his boss in the next presidential elections; and a former communist who hopes to get the endorsement of Alvaro Uribe, the most right-wing president in Colombia's recent history. They say that in Colombia, the magical mixes with the real.