Casanare and Colombia’s vote-buying democracy

Colombia’s oil rich Casanare department long a supposed political stronghold of right wing paramilitaries, yesterday voted in Marco Tulio Ruiz as its new governor amid accusations of corruption and vote buying.

Pictures emerged over the weekend of the new governor’s election team giving away household goods in what looked like an illegal version of a village raffle. Washing machines, fridges and other household appliances, brandished with the aspirant governor’s campaign branding, were handed out to the lucky winners in the packed local square.

Despite this, Internal Minister in President Santos’ s government Fernando Carrillo, hailed the organization of the elections, claiming they were evidence of Colombia’s advancing democracy, labelling them “a top example of security and participation”.

Carrillo’s team had deployed the Inspector General’s office, the registry and extra policing to ensure the vote occurred with the minimum level of interruption or irregularity.

Casanare has an unfortunate history of corruption. Since 1992, when regional elections began, the department has seen 14 governors, a total of five of whom have been removed from office for improper practices. Yesterday’s election itself was called to replace Nelson Marino who was elected to serve until 2015, but was impeached by the Inspector General for suspicious behaviour in the award of lucrative state contracts (he is also being investigated for links to paramilitary groups). The influence of the disgraced Mr Marino looks set to remain however. Tulio Ruiz was elected for the same Afrovides movement having been endorsed by his old boss.

In Casanare is the same story in danger of repeating itself, but with different characters?

Picture, El Espectador