Great Alliance for Change
Encyclopedia
The Great Alliance for Change was a political alliance between parties in Colombia
during the Presidential elections of 1998 that supported the presidency of Andres Pastrana Arango
against the campaign of Colombian Liberal Party
presidential candidacy of Horacio Serpa
, back then supported by the Presidency of Ernesto Samper
.
The alliance formed as a response to the unpopularity of President Samper caused by the "8000 process scandal
in which money from the Cali drug cartel
entered the presidential campaign of Samper and in which Serpa was also involved as head of the campaign. The alliance united the official candidate for the Conservative party, Andres Pastrana and a fraction of the Colombian Liberal party led by Alfonso Valdivieso Sarmiento
who had failed to win the party's nomination against Serpa.
for the conservative party, in a moment when former officialism liberals were trying to gain a seat in the presidency of Congress of Colombia
and in its both chambers. Both chambers were won by the coalition as well as the 14 legislative commissions with some 60 senators and 90 chamber representatives. Surprisingly, and because of the coalition, Conservative senator Valencia-Cossio was elected by a liberal majority as President of the Senate of Colombia
.
The Great Coalition for Change began to crumble with the election for Controller General Carlos Ossa Escobar who was mainly supported by the Colombian Liberal party. Senators that first supported the coalition decided to distance themselves from the Pastrana government, like Íngrid Betancourt
, Claudia Blum
, Fuad Char, Salomón Náder and Javier Ramírez. They alleged that Pastrana had not been following the political accords pact during the presidential campaign, adding to the criticism that these senators made against ministers of the Pastrana administration. After this incident the coalition in congress reduced from 60 to 40 senators and 90 to 60 chamber representatives, causing the political reform of the Pastrana government to fail a pass in Congress which in turn returned to their parties of militancy. The majority in congress, both houses and commissions, then turned its control to the Liberal Caucus, causing tensions between congress and the Pastrana administration.
As another factor to the failure of the coalition was the peace negotiation with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC-EP) guerrilla during the first three years of government. Pastrana faced a lot of criticism for giving the FARC guerrilla a large demilitarized area in El Caguan
without almost any concessions in favor of the government or Colombians. The guerrilla, in contrast, used the area to strengthen militarily as a base for their illegal drug trade
expansion and to gain international support.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
during the Presidential elections of 1998 that supported the presidency of Andres Pastrana Arango
Andrés Pastrana Arango
Andrés Pastrana Arango was the President of Colombia from 1998 to 2002, following in the footsteps of his father, Misael Pastrana, who was president from 1970 to 1974.-Early years:...
against the campaign of Colombian Liberal Party
Colombian Liberal Party
The Colombian Liberal Party is a center-left party in Colombia that adheres to social democracy and social liberalism.The Party was founded in 1848 and, together with the Colombian Conservative Party, subsequently became one of the two main political forces in the country for over a century.After...
presidential candidacy of Horacio Serpa
Horacio Serpa
Horacio Serpa Uribe is a Colombian politician and lawyer. Horacio Serpa has run as the Colombian Liberal Party candidate for President of Colombia on three occasions; in 1998, 2002, and 2006...
, back then supported by the Presidency of Ernesto Samper
Ernesto Samper
Ernesto Samper Pizano is a Colombian politician. He served as the President of Colombia from August 7, 1994 to August 7, 1998, representing the Liberal Party. He was involved in the 8000 process scandal, which takes its name from the folio number assigned to it by the chief prosecutor's office...
.
The alliance formed as a response to the unpopularity of President Samper caused by the "8000 process scandal
Proceso 8000
8,000 Process was the unofficial name of the legal investigation of events surrounding accusations that the Liberal candidate Ernesto Samper's 1994 campaign for President of Colombia was partially funded with drug money...
in which money from the Cali drug cartel
Cali Cartel
The Cali Cartel was a drug cartel based in southern Colombia, around the city of Cali and the Valle del Cauca Department. The Cali Cartel was founded by the Rodríguez Orejuela brothers, Gilberto and Miguel, as well as associate José Santacruz Londoño...
entered the presidential campaign of Samper and in which Serpa was also involved as head of the campaign. The alliance united the official candidate for the Conservative party, Andres Pastrana and a fraction of the Colombian Liberal party led by Alfonso Valdivieso Sarmiento
Alfonso Valdivieso Sarmiento
Alfonso Valdivieso Sarmiento is a Colombian lawyer and politician who as the 2nd Attorney General of Colombia brought charges and stood against the administration of Ernesto Samper Pizano during the Proceso 8000. He also served as the 24th Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations...
who had failed to win the party's nomination against Serpa.
During the Presidency of Pastrana
After the election, the coalition allowed more liberal politicians to join the Great Alliance for Progress, a move supported mainly by Néstor Humberto Martínez and then senator Fabio Valencia CossioFabio Valencia Cossio
Fabio Valencia Cossio is a Colombian lawyer and politician. A Conservative party leader and politician, Valencia was first elected to Congress in 1982 as Representative for the department of Antioquia, continuing to be re-elected until 1991 when he successfully ran for Senate, where he rose to...
for the conservative party, in a moment when former officialism liberals were trying to gain a seat in the presidency of Congress of Colombia
Congress of Colombia
The Congress of the Republic of Colombia is the name given to Colombia's bicameral national legislature.The Congress of Colombia consists of the 102-seat Senate , and the 166-seat Chamber of Representatives ...
and in its both chambers. Both chambers were won by the coalition as well as the 14 legislative commissions with some 60 senators and 90 chamber representatives. Surprisingly, and because of the coalition, Conservative senator Valencia-Cossio was elected by a liberal majority as President of the Senate of Colombia
Senate of Colombia
The Senate of the Republic of Colombia is the upper house of the Congress of Colombia, with the lower house being the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia...
.
The Great Coalition for Change began to crumble with the election for Controller General Carlos Ossa Escobar who was mainly supported by the Colombian Liberal party. Senators that first supported the coalition decided to distance themselves from the Pastrana government, like Íngrid Betancourt
Íngrid Betancourt
Ingrid Betancourt Pulecio is a Colombian politician, former senator and anti-corruption activist.Betancourt was kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia on 23 February 2002 and was rescued by Colombian security forces six and a half years later on 2 July 2008...
, Claudia Blum
Claudia Blum
Claudia Blum Capurro de Barberi is a Colombian psychologist and politician. A veteran Senator, she became the first woman to serve as President of the Senate of Colombia...
, Fuad Char, Salomón Náder and Javier Ramírez. They alleged that Pastrana had not been following the political accords pact during the presidential campaign, adding to the criticism that these senators made against ministers of the Pastrana administration. After this incident the coalition in congress reduced from 60 to 40 senators and 90 to 60 chamber representatives, causing the political reform of the Pastrana government to fail a pass in Congress which in turn returned to their parties of militancy. The majority in congress, both houses and commissions, then turned its control to the Liberal Caucus, causing tensions between congress and the Pastrana administration.
As another factor to the failure of the coalition was the peace negotiation with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army is a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia which is involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict, currently involved in drug dealing and crimes against the civilians..FARC-EP is a peasant army which...
(FARC-EP) guerrilla during the first three years of government. Pastrana faced a lot of criticism for giving the FARC guerrilla a large demilitarized area in El Caguan
El Caguán DMZ
El Caguán DMZ was a demilitarized zone of 42,000 km² in southern Colombia authorized by the government of President Andrés Pastrana to negotiate a peace process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia ....
without almost any concessions in favor of the government or Colombians. The guerrilla, in contrast, used the area to strengthen militarily as a base for their illegal drug trade
Illegal drug trade in Colombia
Illegal drug trade in Colombia refers to the practice of producing and distributing illegal drugs with psychoactive effects in Colombia. Colombia has had four major drug trafficking cartels which eventually created a new social class and influenced several aspects of Colombian culture...
expansion and to gain international support.