Colombia's Ruling Party Leads Congressional Vote, Falls Short of Majority
Did the Historical Pact win a mandate for social reforms or does the Democratic Center's strong showing prove otherwise?
Above: Presidential candidate for the Historical Pact, Sen. Ivan Cepeda, gestures after casting a ballot in Bogotá, Colombia, on March 8. Image credit: Nathalia Angarita/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
It's clear that the Historical Pact has dominated congressional elections and swept to victory, proving its mandate from the people — though still relying on alliances. This is a golden opportunity to approve social reform legislation in Colombia, including the health care reform.
Government-critical narrative
The new Congress underscores a tight political contest, with the Democratic Center consolidating itself as the main opposition force to Petrismo. Strong results in the Chamber and major vote totals in key districts position the party as a decisive check on the government in the next legislative term.
