Colombians vote

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33515, 22 April 1974, Page 13

Colombians vote

i (N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) 'j BOGOTA, April 21. Today is polling day [in Colombia's first open general elections for more than 25 years. The traditionally-dominant I Liberal and Conservative parties are facing a chai lenge from a Left-wing popular front and from a [ woman Presidential candidate. About nine million people [are eligible to vote in South 'America’s fourth largest and Third most populous country: [one of only three in the continent retaining a democratic [system. 1 Most observers expect the trend to favour the Liberal, Mr Alfonso Lopez Michel[sen, despite the charisma of ■ Mrs Sra Maria Eugenia Rojas de Moreno, the first woman ever to run tor the Presidency of a South American nation. Mrs de Moreno, aged 40, advocates “Colombian-style [Socialism” as the candidate of the Popular National Alliance founded by her ifather, the former dictator, I President Gustavo Rojas [Pinilla, more than 20 years 'ago. I She is outflanked on the Left by Dr Hernando Echeverry Mejia, aged 54, the •candidate of the National [Opposition Union, a fledgling alliance of Left-wing groups. I Most recent public opinion polls indicate that the Liberals and Conservatives will [split about 60 per cent of • the popular vote, with Mrs de Moreno capturing up to

i2O per cent in the Presidential poll. In 1957, the Conservatives ' and Liberals signed a peace 1 keeping pact under which c they agreed to alternate in ;the Presidency for four-year terms, for a period of 16 ( years. The pact has now ex D pined.