Colombian President Launches New Party

[Judi Lynn]

Colombian President Launches New Party

Thursday May 12, 2005 7:01 AM


AP Photo BOG101

By DAN MOLINSKI

Associated Press Writer

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - President Alvaro Uribe is creating a political party to formally unite his followers, who until now have been known simply as ``Uribistas,'' but the plan is being resisted by the opposition and even some of his supporters, who worry about a political party based on one man's hardline ideals.

The party could immediately become the most potent force in Colombia's Congress, muscling out the Conservative and Liberal parties that have dominated politics for more than a century. At least 35 of Colombia's 102 senators would be part of the new party, supporters say. The Conservative Party currently has the most senators, with some 25 seats.
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The plan may even cost Uribe some support.

Rafael Pardo, a leading senator who for years has supported the president, said he wants nothing to do with the new party, claiming it would be too close to Colombia's outlawed paramilitary groups.

Uribe has been criticized for being soft on the groups after opening a two-year peace process with one of them, the AUC. The groups were first created in the 1980s by cattle ranchers to guard against leftist rebels but quickly wound up waging a dirty war of massacres and killings against rebels and their perceived supporters.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5000145,00.html