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| Embattled Colombian president names 'peace and unity' cabinet | Embattled Colombian president names 'peace and unity' cabinet |
| (12 days later) | |
| The Colombian president, Juan Manuel Santos, has named five new ministers in a "unity and peace" cabinet – a bid to strengthen his government before presidential elections in 2014 and address heavy criticism of his handling of farming protests that turned violent last week. | The Colombian president, Juan Manuel Santos, has named five new ministers in a "unity and peace" cabinet – a bid to strengthen his government before presidential elections in 2014 and address heavy criticism of his handling of farming protests that turned violent last week. |
| Santos called on each new minister to help him bring an end to five decades of war with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) and resolve problems in the agriculture sector. Santos has not yet said whether he will run for a second term next year but his re-election has become more difficult in recent weeks and hinges on securing peace with the Farc during talks under way in Cuba. "Constructing peace will require a great mobilisation among citizens, it will require participation in new areas to plan and execute agreements reached in Havana," said Santos, 62, after naming his new team at the presidential palace. The entire cabinet resigned on Monday, standard procedure before the president shuffles his cabinet. Santos named Amylkar Acosta as energy minister, Aurelio Iragorri as interior minister, Alfonso Gomez Mendez as justice minister, Ruben Dario Risaralde as agriculture minister and Luz Helena Sarmiento as environment minister. The finance minister, Mauricio Cardenas, kept his post, as did the defence minister, Juan Carlos Pinzon, and the foreign minister, Maria Angela Holguin. The changes to ministerial posts like agriculture and energy are likely aimed at calming tempers after labour disputes across Colombia's vast rural areas and in the mining sector. | Santos called on each new minister to help him bring an end to five decades of war with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) and resolve problems in the agriculture sector. Santos has not yet said whether he will run for a second term next year but his re-election has become more difficult in recent weeks and hinges on securing peace with the Farc during talks under way in Cuba. "Constructing peace will require a great mobilisation among citizens, it will require participation in new areas to plan and execute agreements reached in Havana," said Santos, 62, after naming his new team at the presidential palace. The entire cabinet resigned on Monday, standard procedure before the president shuffles his cabinet. Santos named Amylkar Acosta as energy minister, Aurelio Iragorri as interior minister, Alfonso Gomez Mendez as justice minister, Ruben Dario Risaralde as agriculture minister and Luz Helena Sarmiento as environment minister. The finance minister, Mauricio Cardenas, kept his post, as did the defence minister, Juan Carlos Pinzon, and the foreign minister, Maria Angela Holguin. The changes to ministerial posts like agriculture and energy are likely aimed at calming tempers after labour disputes across Colombia's vast rural areas and in the mining sector. |
| The cabinet shuffle comes a few days after Santos was forced to send troops to patrol the streets of Bogota when protests led by farmers became violent and caused havoc across the capital. The nationwide dispute led to the deaths of five people. "We have to do something that hasn't been done in 80 years," said Santos, the scion of one of the nation's most powerful families. "Have an agrarian revolution." | The cabinet shuffle comes a few days after Santos was forced to send troops to patrol the streets of Bogota when protests led by farmers became violent and caused havoc across the capital. The nationwide dispute led to the deaths of five people. "We have to do something that hasn't been done in 80 years," said Santos, the scion of one of the nation's most powerful families. "Have an agrarian revolution." |
| Approval for the centre-right Santos slumped in the latest Gallup opinion poll taken at the most agitated point of the protest and as Colombians become weary of scant progress in the talks with the Farc. Santos's public approval more than halved to 21% from 48% at the end of June. His popularity soared when he first announced talks with the drug-funded Farc but a year later patience has worn thin as the rebel leadership takes centre stage in televised statements while continuing to attack military and economic targets. The rebels still have a lot to lose if Santos fails to return to office next year. His predecessor, Alvaro Uribe, a former ally turned foe, has spent the last few years grooming candidates to run for election in May. | Approval for the centre-right Santos slumped in the latest Gallup opinion poll taken at the most agitated point of the protest and as Colombians become weary of scant progress in the talks with the Farc. Santos's public approval more than halved to 21% from 48% at the end of June. His popularity soared when he first announced talks with the drug-funded Farc but a year later patience has worn thin as the rebel leadership takes centre stage in televised statements while continuing to attack military and economic targets. The rebels still have a lot to lose if Santos fails to return to office next year. His predecessor, Alvaro Uribe, a former ally turned foe, has spent the last few years grooming candidates to run for election in May. |
| The still-popular Uribe, whose father was killed in a botched kidnapping attempt by the Farc, was responsible for some of the harshest blows against the rebels and would almost certainly support an end to the talks in Havana. | The still-popular Uribe, whose father was killed in a botched kidnapping attempt by the Farc, was responsible for some of the harshest blows against the rebels and would almost certainly support an end to the talks in Havana. |
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