BBC (Sunday): Colombia leader faces poll setback

Jack Rabbit

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Oct-26-03 08:58 AM
Original message

BBC (Sunday): Colombia leader faces poll setback

From the BBC Online
Dated Sunday October 26 05:50 GMT (Saturday 10:50 pm PDT/9:50 pm PST)

Colombia leader faces poll setback

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has won support in a referendum for his plans to cut public spending but it is unclear whether low turnout will invalidate the poll.
With almost all the ballot papers counted only just over 24% of the electorate had registered a vote on the point.
A quarter of all voters have to participate for the result to be valid.
The key question, which asked voters to approve a two-year salary freeze for state workers, received 80% approval, according to election officials.

Read more.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

La_Serpiente

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Oct-26-03 09:16 AM
Response to Original message

1. I can't blame the low voter turnout

the leftist rebel group over there threatened to shoot anyone who voted. More than 3000 people are killed each year by them.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Jack Rabbit

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Oct-26-03 09:37 AM
Response to Reply #1

2. Dysfunctioning democracy

Edited on Sun Oct-26-03 09:38 AM by Jack Rabbit

1. On your point, that's true. However, democratic institutions in Colombia are dysfunctional. Poor people don't vote; that would be supporting the system. They support the FARC. It's a stretch to call any election in Colombia valid.

2. Here's a scary thought for you: Is is possible that, by 2008, the Democratic Party or some major part of it will be acting like a banana republic opposition to the Bush banana republic dictatorship and be urging voters to boycott rigged elections?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Tue May 14th 2024, 06:30 AM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.