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Scandals taint Colombian presidential race Scandals taint Colombian presidential race
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Damning accusations of espionage and payoffs from drug lords have tainted Colombia's presidential campaign, with advisers to the top two candidates resigning in separate scandals that could keep already indifferent voters away from the ballot boxes.Damning accusations of espionage and payoffs from drug lords have tainted Colombia's presidential campaign, with advisers to the top two candidates resigning in separate scandals that could keep already indifferent voters away from the ballot boxes.
President Juan Manuel Santos, who will seek a second term later this month on promises to make peace with leftwing rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), is the frontrunner, but polls suggest he lacks the support to avoid a runoff.President Juan Manuel Santos, who will seek a second term later this month on promises to make peace with leftwing rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), is the frontrunner, but polls suggest he lacks the support to avoid a runoff.
His closest rival, Oscar Iván Zuluaga, the candidate of the rightwing Democratic Centre party, has been sharply critical of negotiations with the Farc, twhich has been fighting the state for half a century.His closest rival, Oscar Iván Zuluaga, the candidate of the rightwing Democratic Centre party, has been sharply critical of negotiations with the Farc, twhich has been fighting the state for half a century.
Neither candidate has managed to whip up much voter enthusiasm in the runup to the vote on 25 May, with Santos polling at about 30% and Zuluaga 20%. Both campaigns could see their support slip further because of the swirl of scandal and mudslinging.Neither candidate has managed to whip up much voter enthusiasm in the runup to the vote on 25 May, with Santos polling at about 30% and Zuluaga 20%. Both campaigns could see their support slip further because of the swirl of scandal and mudslinging.
Santos's campaign was hit by allegations that his political strategist, Juan José Rendón, had accepted US$12m (£7m) to act as a broker for drug lords to surrender in exchange for not being extradited to the US. Rendón, who resigned last week, acknowledged having been contacted by the capos but denied accepting any money. Santos's campaign was hit by allegations that his political strategist, Juan José Rendón, had accepted $12m (£7m) to act as a broker for drug lords to surrender in exchange for not being extradited to the US. Rendón, who resigned last week, acknowledged having been contacted by the capos but denied accepting any money.
A day later Colombia's attorney general charged a member of the Zuluaga campaign's social media team, Andrés Sepulveda, with illegally intercepting communications of government and Farc negotiators in an attempt to sabotage the peace talks.A day later Colombia's attorney general charged a member of the Zuluaga campaign's social media team, Andrés Sepulveda, with illegally intercepting communications of government and Farc negotiators in an attempt to sabotage the peace talks.
Zuluaga denied his campaign had hired Sepúlveda for that purpose and tried to distance himself from any wrongdoing by the self-described ethical hacker. His campaign chief, Luis Alfonso Hoyos, resigned, however, after revelations that he and Sepúlveda had offered confidential information on supposed Farc campaigning on behalf of Santos to a local news programme.Zuluaga denied his campaign had hired Sepúlveda for that purpose and tried to distance himself from any wrongdoing by the self-described ethical hacker. His campaign chief, Luis Alfonso Hoyos, resigned, however, after revelations that he and Sepúlveda had offered confidential information on supposed Farc campaigning on behalf of Santos to a local news programme.
Both campaigns accused the other of using the scandals to taint the race. "I never thought the enemies of peace would go this far," Santos said. Capping the week of scandals, the former president Alvaro Uribe, a one-time ally of Santos who is today his fiercest critic, accused Rendón of using $2m of the money he supposedly received from the drug lords to help Santos' 2010 elction campaign cover debts. He said he would offer proof to prosecutors, but failed to appear at a hearing on Monday.
Santos called the allegations "absolutely absurd" and said Uribe did not go to the prosecutor's office because he could not prove his allegations. Uribe, however, called on the attorney general and his deputy to recuse themselves and told reporters that he would instead present evidence to the inspector general, a staunch ally of the former president.
Both campaigns have accused the other of using the scandals to taint the race. "I never thought the enemies of peace would go this far," Santos said.
"There is a plot against our campaign," Zuluaga said."There is a plot against our campaign," Zuluaga said.
The political analyst Fernando Cepeda said the scandals were likely to hurt voter turnout. "This sort of thing disappoints people if they don't look at the dirty campaigning with a critical eye," he said.The political analyst Fernando Cepeda said the scandals were likely to hurt voter turnout. "This sort of thing disappoints people if they don't look at the dirty campaigning with a critical eye," he said.
Other candidates in the race – Enrique Peñalosa of the centre-left Green Aliance, Marta Lucía Ramírez of the Conservative party and Clara López of the leftist Democratic Pole party – may stand to benefit. Even before the scandals, opinion polls suggested that as many as 17% of voters planned to cast a blank ballot. Even more may just stay away.Other candidates in the race – Enrique Peñalosa of the centre-left Green Aliance, Marta Lucía Ramírez of the Conservative party and Clara López of the leftist Democratic Pole party – may stand to benefit. Even before the scandals, opinion polls suggested that as many as 17% of voters planned to cast a blank ballot. Even more may just stay away.
Jaime Sanabria, an engineering student, had planned to vote for the first time this year, but now he says he might just stay home. "Politics like this make me sick," he said.Jaime Sanabria, an engineering student, had planned to vote for the first time this year, but now he says he might just stay home. "Politics like this make me sick," he said.