Colombian presidential candidate Valencia vows end to ‘total peace’ policy, will be tougher on security
By Luis Jaime Acosta
BOGOTA, May 20 (Reuters) – Colombian presidential candidate Paloma Valencia said the government would scrap its “total peace” policy and pursue a tougher security strategy against armed groups if elected; This marks a sharp shift from the approach of leftist President Gustavo Petro.
“The policy of total peace ends with me. Total security will begin,” Valencia, 48, said in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday, adding that he would reactivate arrest warrants and strengthen security forces in cooperation with the United States.
Valencia, the candidate of the right-wing Democratic Center party backed by former president Alvaro Uribe, opposes the continuation of peace talks with opposition groups of former FARC rebels, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and criminal gangs such as the “Gulf Clan”.
Peter’s government has tried to negotiate with armed groups to end the six-decade conflict that has killed more than 450,000 people, but with less than three months left in his term, the talks have yielded no results.
Valencia’s platform emphasizes security, including expanding the police and military to 60,000 personnel and resuming aerial spraying of coca crops using non-glyphosate herbicides, which were restricted in 2015 due to health concerns.
Valencia, a three-term senator, faces a crowded field that includes leftist Ivan Cepeda and independent right-wing businessman Abelardo De La Espriella.
Valencia, whose campaign focused especially on female voters, said, “We will elect a female president for the first time. And this is a historical event that we must achieve.”
Polls show a tight race for second place, which will determine who Cepeda, the candidate of the Historical Pact coalition, will face in the possible second round.
ECONOMIC SITUATION
On economic policy, Valencia favors increasing oil, gas and mining production, including hydraulic fracturing, with environmental protection measures, in contrast to Petro’s effort to restrict new fossil fuel development.
“We will promote the exploration and production of oil, gas, coal, minerals and rare earths, while ensuring the protection of the environment,” he said, adding that fracking would be excluded from the Amazon and high-altitude paramo ecosystems.
He noted that 5 percent growth in the mining, energy and construction sectors could reach 30 trillion pesos ($7.9 billion) to finance social spending.
Valencia also proposed reducing income taxes, eliminating wealth and financial transaction taxes, and supporting the US-led “Shield of the Americas” regional security initiative.
More than 41 million Colombians have the right to vote in the presidential elections to be held on May 31.
(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Editing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Chizu Nomiyama)
