#Sergio Fajardo

Sergio Fajardo, a political biography

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Medellin born Sergio Fajardo is one of Colombia’s most recognized and acclaimed independently minded politicians.  His rising political career, which includes holding mayoral office in Medellin, a vice presidential candidacy for national government, and a current tenure as Governor of Antioquia, make Fajardo an optioned presidential hopeful in the short and medium term. His successful governance outcomes have motivated the Colombian Green Party’s attempt to position Fajardo as their presidential candidate for the 2014 presidential election.

Fajardo’s career began far away from politics. Before going into public affairs, Fajardo was an academic; he obtained a Ph.D in Mathematics from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1984, and a BSc from Universidad de los Andes in 1977. After concluding his studies, Fajardo proved to be an able teacher, researcher and scientist. This led him to occupy posts such as The National Council of Basic Sciences and the National Comission of Masters and Doctorates.

His transition from academia to politics was not sudden or unexepected. Sporadically, Fajardo began to make a name for himself in public life, fist publishing occasional opinion articles, then participating in different social fora. In 1995, Fajardo was asked to be a member of the Comisión Facilitadora de Paz de Antioquia, alongside Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oscar Arias, as well as other recognized figures.

After gaining political visibility, Fajardo went on to create the, today extinct, Compromiso Ciudadano movement, alongside influential artists, thinkers, and businessmen including current Medellin mayor Alonso Salazar. Under the banner of independent and clean politics, Fajardo managed to secure an unexpected third place in the Medellin mayoral race of 2000. This largely unpredicted result, gave Fajardo enough confidence and political capital to become a serious contender in Colombian politics. True to his independent, anti-ideological style, Fajardo rejected the invitation to become a part of the Frente Social Amplio left-oriented movement.

In 2003 Fajardo, once again, attempted to become Mayor of Medellin, representing the Alianza Social Indigena movement. He secured an overwhelming victory with 210.000 votes, thus becoming Medellin mayor from 2004 until 2007. His time in office is well remembered for his successful performance.

While in office, Fajardo managed to transform the city of Medellin, as well as, public administration in Medellin. Responsible public spending, record numbers in social investment, a pronounced decrease in crime, and social inclusion policies made Fajardo the recipient of many national and international prizes of good governance, and successful public administration.  Furthermore, Fajardo managed to renovate the reputation and performance of the public sector in the city of Medellin.

After his successful term as mayor, Fajardo decided in 2008 to try to run for the presidency of Colombia, with the aim of winning the 2010 election. In a time of intense political polarization and continuous government scandal, Fajardo opted to position his movement as entirely independent. Claiming to be neither left, nor right, not uribista, and not anti-uribista, Fajardo joined the short-lived “quintuplets” movement (alongside Antanas Mockus, Enrique Peñalosa, Marta Lucía Ramírez, and Luis Eduardo Garzón). He left after his demand to be their presidential candidate was denied.

Fajardo carried on in his presidential attempt however, visiting the different regions of Colombia and campaigning in the streets with a face-to-face approach towards the people. He also led a movement of candidates for the senate, which failed to secure any congressional seat. After this defeat, Fajardo accepted an invitation from the Green Party to be fellow scientist Antanas Mockus’ running mate for the 2010 presidential election.

Alas, Fajardo once again suffered defeat, as Mockus came second in the election of 2010. This did not stop Fajardo from seeking political office, thus, as a member of the Green Party, he became Governor of Antioquia in 2011, promising to replicate the successful policies he implemented in Medellin. As the Governor of Antioquia, amongst other things, Fajardo has published a public administration report titled “The White Book”.  This report has helped to increase transparency and show the high levels of corruption and negligent management of the previous administrations.

Green Party to fight for Colombia´s presidency

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Colombia´s Green Party announced that a public consultation will take place this month to decide its candidate for next year’s presidential elections.

The announcement of a contest came during a meeting of the key members of the party at the weekend in Medellin, and the favourite to lead the party into next year’s vote is the current Governor of Antioquia and former mayor of Medellin Sergio Fajardo.

The Green Party have close to no chance of winning the presidency in next year’s election with nationwide support being somewhat limited. The party currently holds five seats in the Senate and three in the Chamber of Representatives. However, during the last presidential election in 2010 the Green Party Candidate Antanas Mockus enjoyed significant support in urban areas and made it through to the second round of voting where he lost to Santos.

Fajardo, like Mockus, is a mathematician and held a number of senior positions within academia before moving into public life. As mayor of Medellin between 2003-2007, his tenure saw a reduction in violence in the city and sound management of the public finances. He was also voted the best mayor of Colombia as well as “Personality of Latin America” by the Financial Times during this time. Farjardo also has links with the Colombian media having worked with various national newspapers and Caracol Radio. It is whispered that he will hand in his resignation as the Governor of Antioquia in the coming weeks in order to fight for the candidacy.

Also in the running for the candidacy are two former mayors of Bogota, Lucho Garzon and Enrique Peñalosa. Though the Green Party’s fight for the presidency is not likely to be a fruitful one,  they certainly bring an interesting dynamic to Colombian politics, and their popularity among young people is down their refreshingly optimistic and principled take on key issues.

Uribe seeks presidential candidate

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Colombia Ex President Alvaro Uribe´s search of a candidate to take on Juan Manuel Santos in the 2014 presidential elections has led him to consider current Governor of Antioquia Sergio Fajardo.

Fajardo ran on Mockus´Green Party ticket at the elections in 2010 and – despite the Green Party forming part of the Santos Government coalition –  has long been tipped for a tilt at the top job against the current president.

Former Medellin Mayor, Fajardo is politically of a different colour to Uribe, a centrist who has campaigned and tried to govern on an fiercely anti-corruption platform.

Fajardo has denied the rumours that suggest he was courted by Uribe last week and has claimed he will serve out a full term as Governor. However, he has until May to decide whether to resign, as the law permits aspiring candidates for the presidency to stay in post until 12 months before elections take place.

It seems difficult to see Fajardo as Uribe´s candidate – he is too much his own man.

That Uribe is said to be considering Fajardo is evidence of the former president´s anxiety to find a strong candidate to face Santos. Uribe´s former finance minister, Oscar Ivan Zuluaga has been in the frame for months and officially launched his pre-campaign last Thursday. But polls show Zuluaga has little visibility. Former Vice President, Pacho Santos is another name Uribistas in the Democratic Centre coalition have floated. But he has around 30% support in the country and is considered a polarizing figure by many. Conservative Marta Lucia Ramirez has also flirted with the Uribistas to try to form a coalition between the blues and Democratic Centre.

The simple truth is that Uribism is far from settling on a candidate. It must act quickly if it is to be able to position a possible challenger to Santos. Uribe himself continues to be coy on whether he will return to head up a list for the senate. Despite claiming in a recent interview on Cable Noticias´flagship political programme, 360 Grados to be in “permanent campaign” since leaving the presidential palace, it is clear that Uribe has sharpened his attack on the Santos Government and has entered the pre-election battle. Who will emerge as his standard bearer?

Mockus Green Party return?

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Colombia´s Green Party could soon welcome back its 2010 presidential candidate, the popular and maverick academic, Antanas Mockus, it was revealed today.

At the national youth conference, a meeting, hosted by the party´s president, heard a series of voices make the argument for a change in direction at the top and for a reconciliation with Mockus who left the party in protest at Alvaro Uribe´s involvement in Enrique Peñalosa ´s Bogotá Mayor election campaign in 2011.

Mockus is a fierce critic of Uribe and felt the party has lost its way by allowing the ex-president to join Peñalosa´s team. Criticism of the party has also come from its decision to join President Santos´ National Unity coalition government (after running against the president in the elections), with many Mockus supporters suggesting the independence of the party had been sold off.

The truth is that the Green Party has struggled to establish either unity or a real presence on the political stage after Mockus´ failed, but exciting, campaign to win the presidency in 2010.

Mockus created what was called the Green Wave, an enthusiastic and optimistic surge in support for his candidature against Juan Manuel Santos, a wave which at times put him top of the polls and on course to victory. Mockus eventually lost to Santos in the second round run off and the party has failed either to put the defeat behind it, or to capitalize on the work of their candidate.

The Green Wave has retreated to such an extent that many feel the party could be wiped out at the 2014 congressional elections.

The Greens are a party that sits in the centre with some of its members, like Mockus to the centre-left, while others like John Sudarsky and Enrique Peñalosa would feel at home more on the centre-right. Its policy platform remains unclear – like most parties in Colombia – but as a movement it has real potential to appeal to large sections of the society disillusioned with the traditional battle between the Conservatives and the Liberals.

So will Mockus return to the party to give it a much need lift ahead of the start of the election campaign? Time will tell, but Mockus has cut a lonely figure in recent months.

Perhaps most interesting is the talk of Mockus joining forces again with the current Governor of Antioquia, Sergio Fajardo. Fajardo is tipped by some to lead the group. Although current party president Alfonso Prada was quick today to rule out this possibility, he has a vested interest.

Mockus, a former University Rector, was a two-times highly successful and respected Mayor of Bogotá, and continues to enjoy – an albeit significantly reduced – cult appeal. Whether or not Mockus returns in an official capacity, the Greens must bring together the “big beasts” and use their profile and popularity. If the party fails to do so, it could face possible extinction come March next year.