It would be wrong - in one page - to give more than just a taster of Colombia's political story.
So, I will answer as succinctly as possible the following questions. What type of democracy does Colombia have? How is this organised? Who are the main political parties?
My posts will provide greater detail and analysis - so keep reading them for a fuller and more nuanced analysis of Colombian politics.
Democracy
Colombia has a long tradition of democracy.
Colombia is in many ways not a typical Latin American nation - politically speaking. The history of South and Central America bears the scars of regular military rule and dictatorships. Not so in Colombia. The country has only endured military control on three occasions, in 1830, 1854, and 1953. In fact the armed forces took control in 1953 with the consent and support of the political elite - who themselves were incapable of governing the country at the time.
It is considered one of the most stable democracies in Latin America.
A tale of two parties?
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| Casa de Narino - Colombia's Presidential palace |
From the middle of 19th century, until the new constitution of 1991, Colombia's politics were fought (often literally) between two parties - the Conservatives and the Liberals. As well as sharing power, the Conservatives and Liberals split the nation in a period of civil conflict labelled La Violencia between 1948 and 1966.
In recent years Colombian politics have become pluralist. Some argue that Colombia is moving quickly towards personality - and away from party - politics.
Alvaro Uribe is perhaps the clearest example of this phenomenon. Uribe left the Liberal Party to create the Colombia First movement, with whom he became president in 2002 - Uribe was considered an independent, around whom a political force grew. To support his re-election in 2006 the coalition that had coalesced around Uribe became the party of the 'U'. It was on this U platform that current President, Juan Manuel Santos made his way to the Casa de Narino in 2010.
President Santos has now formed his own coalition which he calls the government of national unity. This government has brought together the U, the Conservatives, the Liberals, Cambio Radical, and the Greens. This represents 94% of Congress. The only main party outside of the coalition is the Polo Democratico (the 'socialist party').
Colombia has developed into a complicated multi-party state - at least on paper - in which, at times, it can difficult to keep track of which congressman is in which party and on which platform said congressman might run for president.
The main parties - in terms of representation in Congress and Presidential candidates in the 2010 elections are:
http://www.elpartidodelau.com/ - Party of the U
http://www.somosconservadores.org/cedulapcc/index.php - Conservative Party
http://www.partidoliberalcolombiano.info/ - Liberal Party
http://partidocambioradical.org/ - Radical Change Party
http://www.polodemocratico.net/ - Democratic Pole Party
http://www.partidoverde.org.co/ - Green Party
A Presidential system
Colombia is a presidential democracy in which the executive holds significant power over the legislature.
The legislature is formed of a bicameral Congress - with a Senate, and a Chamber of Representatives. Members of Congress are elected for four year terms (in the same year as the president). Consequently, the last congressional elections took place in 2010. Congressmen are elected by geographical area, on a proportional basis.
The elections of 2010 gave the party of the U the largest number of seats in both houses, with 27 of the 102 available in the Senate and 48 of the 165 in the Representatives. The Conservative and the Liberals are the second and third largest parties in both houses (Senate - Con 23, Lib 17, Representatives - Lib 38, Con 36)
The President of course chooses his cabinet, and in the case of Juan Manual Santos, his ministers are taken from a cross-section of the parties in his coalition.
Useful link to keep up to date with the President Santos (available in English) http://wsp.presidencia.gov.co/Paginas/Presidencia.aspx