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{{Short description|Colombian political party}}
{{Short description|Colombian political party}}
{{Use dmy dates|April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Expand Spanish|Polo Democrático Alternativo|date=July 2017}}
{{Expand Spanish|topic=gov|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox political party
{{Infobox political party
| country = Colombia
| country = Colombia
| name = Alternative Democratic Pole
| name = Alternative Democratic Pole
| native_name = Polo Democrático Alternativo
| native_name = Polo Democrático Alternativo
| colorcode = yellow
| colorcode = yellow
| logo = PDA Logo.svg
| logo = PDA Logo.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_size = 200px
| youth_wing = ''Polo Jóven''
| president = [[Alexander Lopez]]
| president = [[Alexander López Maya]]
| leader1_title = Senate leader
| leader1_title = Senate leader
| leader1_name = [[Iván Cepeda Castro]]
| leader1_name = [[Iván Cepeda|Iván Cepeda Castro]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|2005|12}}
| foundation = {{Start date and age|2005|12}}
⚫
| ideology = {{Nowrap|[[Social democracy]]<ref>{{Citation |first=Jennifer |last=Schirmer |title=A Norwegian-Supported Peace Building Project: Conversations among Security Forces, Former Guerillas, and Civil Society |work=Colombia: Building Peace in a Time of War |agency=United States Institute of Peace |year=2009 |page=407}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |first=James F. |last=Rochlin |title=Social Forces and the Revolution in Military Affairs: The Cases of Colombia and Mexico |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2007 |page=90}}</ref><br> [[Democratic socialism]]<br />[[Progressivism]]<br />[[Protectionism]]}}
| merger = [[Independent Democratic Pole]]<br />Democratic Alternative
⚫
| position = [[Left-wing politics|Left-wing]]<ref name="iwgia">{{Citation |first=Juan |last=Houghton |title=Colombia |work=The Indigenous World 2008 |publisher=International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) |year=2008 |page=136}}</ref><ref name="TayBotCri">{{Citation |first1=Steven L. |last1=Taylor |first2=Felipe |last2=Botero Jaramillo |first3=Brian F. |last3=Crisp |title=Precandidates, Candidates, and Presidents: Paths to the Colombian Presidency |work=Pathways to Power |publisher=Pennsylvania State University Press |year=2008 |page=291}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |first=Mary |last=Roldán |title=End of Discussion: Violence, Participatory Democracy, and the Limits of Dissent in Colombia |work=Violent Democracies in Latin America |publisher=Duke University Press |year=2010 |page=64}}</ref><ref name="Hristov"/>
⚫
| ideology = {{Nowrap|[[Social democracy]]<ref>{{Citation |first=Jennifer |last=Schirmer |title=A Norwegian-Supported Peace Building Project: Conversations among Security Forces, Former Guerillas, and Civil Society |work=Colombia: Building Peace in a Time of War |agency=United States Institute of Peace |year=2009 |page=407}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |first=James F. |last=Rochlin |title=Social Forces and the Revolution in Military Affairs: The Cases of Colombia and Mexico |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2007 |page=90}}</ref><br />[[Progressivism]]<br />[[Protectionism]]}}
⚫
| colours = {{color box|#FFFF00|border=darkgray}} [[Yellow]]
⚫
| position = [[Left-wing politics|Left-wing]]<ref name="iwgia">{{Citation |first=Juan |last=Houghton |title=Colombia |work=The Indigenous World 2008 |publisher=International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) |year=2008 |page=136}}</ref><ref name="TayBotCri">{{Citation |first1=Steven L. |last1=Taylor |first2=Felipe |last2=Botero Jaramillo |first3=Brian F. |last3=Crisp |title=Precandidates, Candidates, and Presidents: Paths to the Colombian Presidency |work=Pathways to Power |publisher=Pennsylvania State University Press |year=2008 |page=291}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |first=Mary |last=Roldán |title=End of Discussion: Violence, Participatory Democracy, and the Limits of Dissent in Colombia |work=Violent Democracies in Latin America |publisher=Duke University Press |year=2010 |page=64}}</ref><ref name="Hristov"/>
| headquarters = [[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]]
⚫
| colours = {{color box|#FFFF00|border=darkgray}} [[Yellow]]
⚫
| members =
| regional = [[São Paulo Forum]]
| headquarters = [[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]]
⚫
| members =
⚫
| national = [[Historic Pact for Colombia]]
| regional = [[São Paulo Forum]]
| seats1_title = [[Chamber of Representatives of Colombia|Chamber of Representatives]]
⚫
| national = [[Historic Pact for Colombia]]
⚫
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|2|172|yellow}}
| seats2_title = [[Senate of Colombia|Senate]]
| seats1_title = [[Chamber of Representatives of Colombia|Chamber of Representatives]]
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|5|108|yellow}}
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|9|188|yellow}}
| seats2_title = [[Senate of Colombia|Senate]]
⚫
| website = [http://www.polodemocratico.net www.polodemocratico.net]
⚫
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|6|108|yellow}}
⚫
| website = [http://www.polodemocratico.net www.polodemocratico.net]
}}
}}
The '''Alternative Democratic Pole''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Polo Democrático Alternativo'' or '''PDA''') is a [[social democracy|social democratic]] [[list of political parties in Colombia|political party in Colombia]].<ref name="Rochlin">{{Citation |first=James F. |last=Rochlin |title=Social Forces and the Revolution in Military Affairs: The Cases of Colombia and Mexico |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2007 |pages=83}}</ref>


It was founded as a political alliance of the [[Independent Democratic Pole]] (PDI) and the Democratic Alternative (AD) in December 2005. Both parties opposed the neoliberal economic program, securitization and militarization of Colombia under then-President [[Álvaro Uribe]].<ref name="Hristov">{{Citation |first=Jasmin |last=Hristov |title=Blood & Capital: The Paramilitarization of Colombia |publisher=Ohio University Press |year=2009 |page=144}}</ref> Subsequently, it was the only parliamentary party to declare opposition to the government of [[Juan Manuel Santos]], and has joined the opposition against the government of [[Ivan Duque]].
The '''Alternative Democratic Pole''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Polo Democrático Alternativo'' or '''PDA''') is a [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] [[list of political parties in Colombia|political party in Colombia]],<ref name="Rochlin">{{Citation |first=James F. |last=Rochlin |title=Social Forces and the Revolution in Military Affairs: The Cases of Colombia and Mexico |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2007 |pages=83}}</ref> active from 2005 to the present. In 2022 it was successful at the polls and formed the Government of Colombia.


As of 2009, a considerable part of PDA politicians consist of former guerrilla fighters who gave up armed struggle and demobilized during the late 1980s and early 1990s.<ref>{{Citation |first=Jennifer |last=Schirmer |title=A Norwegian-Supported Peace Building Project: Conversations among Security Forces, Former Guerillas, and Civil Society |work=Colombia: Building Peace in a Time of War |agency=United States Institute of Peace |year=2009 |page=406}}</ref> As of 2012, a considerable part of PDA politicians including the former guerrilla fighters are affiliated by will to the [[Green Party (Colombia)|Green Party]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Diario|first1=El Espectador|title=El M19 está apoderándose del Partido Verde|url=http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/el-m19-esta-apoderandose-del-partido-verde-articulo-451103}}</ref> or to [[Progressive Movement (Colombia)|Movimiento Progresistas]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Diario|first1=El Universal|title=Gustavo Petro renuncia a filas del Polo Democrático|url=http://www.eluniversal.com/2010/11/30/int_art_gustavo-petro-renunc_2122817}}</ref> or by disciplinary action to [[Marcha Patriótica]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Revista|first1=Semana|title=Partido Comunista "sí está fuera del Polo": Comité Ejecutivo Nacional|url=http://www.semana.com/politica/articulo/partido-comunista-si-esta-fuera-del-polo-comite-ejecutivo-nacional/262995-3}}</ref> instead of PDA.
It was founded as a political alliance of the [[Independent Democratic Pole]] (PDI) and the Democratic Alternative (AD) in December 2005. Both parties opposed the neoliberal economic program, securitization and militarization of Colombia under then-President [[Álvaro Uribe]].<ref name="Hristov">{{Citation |first=Jasmin |last=Hristov |title=Blood & Capital: The Paramilitarization of Colombia |publisher=Ohio University Press |year=2009 |page=144}}</ref> Subsequently, it was the only parliamentary party to declare opposition to the government of [[Juan Manuel Santos]], and then joined the opposition against the government of [[Ivan Duque]].
As of 2009, a considerable number of PDA politicians were still former guerrilla fighters who gave up armed struggle and demobilized during the late 1980s and early 1990s.<ref>{{Citation |first=Jennifer |last=Schirmer |title=A Norwegian-Supported Peace Building Project: Conversations among Security Forces, Former Guerillas, and Civil Society |work=Colombia: Building Peace in a Time of War |agency=United States Institute of Peace |year=2009 |page=406}}</ref> And by 2012, a considerable part of PDA politicians including the former guerrilla fighters were more aligned with the [[Green Party (Colombia)|Green Party]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Diario|first1=El Espectador|title=El M19 está apoderándose del Partido Verde|url=http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/el-m19-esta-apoderandose-del-partido-verde-articulo-451103}}</ref> the [[Progressive Movement (Colombia)|Movimiento Progresistas]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Diario|first1=El Universal|title=Gustavo Petro renuncia a filas del Polo Democrático|url=http://www.eluniversal.com/2010/11/30/int_art_gustavo-petro-renunc_2122817}}</ref> or [[Marcha Patriótica]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Revista|first1=Semana|title=Partido Comunista "sí está fuera del Polo": Comité Ejecutivo Nacional|url=http://www.semana.com/politica/articulo/partido-comunista-si-esta-fuera-del-polo-comite-ejecutivo-nacional/262995-3}}</ref> than the PDA.


==Political development==
==Political development==
Line 41: Line 44:
At the [[2006 Colombian presidential election|presidential elections]] of 28 May 2006, [[Carlos Gaviria]] came second with 22.04% of the vote, 2,613,157 votes.<ref>National Registry of Civil State, results of the 2006 presidential election. http://www.registraduria.gov.co/resprelec2006/0528/index.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718023257/http://www.registraduria.gov.co/resprelec2006/0528/index.htm |date=2011-07-18 }}</ref> This was the highest ever result for a left-wing candidate in Colombia's history.<ref name="Rochlin"/> Thus, the party replaced the long-standing Liberal Party as the country's second force and main opposition party.<ref name="TayBotCri"/>
At the [[2006 Colombian presidential election|presidential elections]] of 28 May 2006, [[Carlos Gaviria]] came second with 22.04% of the vote, 2,613,157 votes.<ref>National Registry of Civil State, results of the 2006 presidential election. http://www.registraduria.gov.co/resprelec2006/0528/index.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718023257/http://www.registraduria.gov.co/resprelec2006/0528/index.htm |date=2011-07-18 }}</ref> This was the highest ever result for a left-wing candidate in Colombia's history.<ref name="Rochlin"/> Thus, the party replaced the long-standing Liberal Party as the country's second force and main opposition party.<ref name="TayBotCri"/>


After the election, the PDA was successful in gaining the support of groups representing the indigenous movement which affiliated with the coalition.<ref name="iwgia"/> Also, on its fourth national congress, the guerrilla group [[National Liberation Army (Colombia)|National Liberation Army]] (ELN) commented favorably about the PDA's electoral performance and declared that political action should take precedence over armed struggle.<ref>{{Citation |first=León |last=Valencia |title=The ELN's Halting Moves toward Peace |work=Colombia: Building Peace in a Time of War |agency=United States Institute of Peace |year=2009 |page=99}}</ref> Though, PDA is not related to guerrillas or any other armed factions as they clearly state in their founding doctrine: "We oppose to war and to the exercise of violence as means to political action".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Partido|first1=Polo Democrático Alternativo|title=Ideario de Unidad|url=http://www.polodemocratico.net/index.php/nuestro-partido/ideario-de-unidad|access-date=2015-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415161924/http://www.polodemocratico.net/index.php/nuestro-partido/ideario-de-unidad|archive-date=2015-04-15|url-status=dead}}</ref>
After the election, the PDA was successful in gaining the support of groups representing the indigenous movement affiliated with the coalition.<ref name="iwgia"/> The guerrilla group [[National Liberation Army (Colombia)|National Liberation Army]] (ELN) (at its fourth national congress) commented favorably on the PDA's electoral performance and declared that political action should take precedence over armed struggle.<ref>{{Citation |first=León |last=Valencia |title=The ELN's Halting Moves toward Peace |work=Colombia: Building Peace in a Time of War |agency=United States Institute of Peace |year=2009 |page=99}}</ref> PDA's own founding doctrine repudiates armed guerilla politics: "We oppose war and the exercise of violence as means of political action".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Partido|first1=Polo Democrático Alternativo|title=Ideario de Unidad|url=http://www.polodemocratico.net/index.php/nuestro-partido/ideario-de-unidad|access-date=2015-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415161924/http://www.polodemocratico.net/index.php/nuestro-partido/ideario-de-unidad|archive-date=2015-04-15|url-status=dead}}</ref>


The PDA could further consolidate its organization and gain support on a local level.<ref>{{Citation |first=Rex A. |last=Hudson |title=Colombia: A country study |edition=Fifth |publisher=Library of Congress Federal Research Division |year=2010 |page=xli}}</ref> In October 2007, the PDA's candidate, [[Samuel Moreno Rojas]] won the mayoral election in Colombia's capital [[Bogotá]].<ref name="xxvi">{{Citation |first=Rex A. |last=Hudson |title=Colombia: A country study |edition=Fifth |publisher=Library of Congress Federal Research Division |year=2010 |page=xxvi}}</ref>
Later the PDA further consolidated its organization and gained support on a local level.<ref>{{Citation |first=Rex A. |last=Hudson |title=Colombia: A country study |edition=Fifth |publisher=Library of Congress Federal Research Division |year=2010 |page=xli}}</ref> In October 2007, the PDA's candidate, [[Samuel Moreno Rojas]] won the mayoral election in Colombia's capital [[Bogotá]].<ref name="xxvi">{{Citation |first=Rex A. |last=Hudson |title=Colombia: A country study |edition=Fifth |publisher=Library of Congress Federal Research Division |year=2010 |page=xxvi}}</ref>


In the [[2010 Colombian parliamentary election|2010 congressional election]], PDA's support declined. It won 7.8% of votes and 8 of 100 seats in the Senate, and 5.9% of the vote and 4 of 164 seats in the House of Representatives, demoting it to the sixth rank among parliamentary parties. Before the election, a faction of the PDA had split off and joined the [[Green Party (Colombia)|Green Party]].<ref>{{Citation |first=Harvey F. |last=Kline |title=Historical Dictionary of Colombia |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2012 |page=404}}</ref>
In the [[2010 Colombian parliamentary election|2010 congressional election]], PDA's support declined. It won 7.8% of votes and 8 of 100 seats in the Senate, and 5.9% of the vote and 4 of 164 seats in the House of Representatives, demoting it to the sixth rank among parliamentary parties. Before the election, a faction of the PDA had split off and joined the [[Green Party (Colombia)|Green Party]].<ref>{{Citation |first=Harvey F. |last=Kline |title=Historical Dictionary of Colombia |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2012 |page=404}}</ref>


[[Clara López Obregón|Clara Lopez]] was the party's candidate for the [[2014 Colombian presidential election|2014 presidential election]];<ref>{{cite news |title=Clara López es la candidata a la Presidencia por el Polo Democrático |newspaper=El Tiempo |location=Bogotá, Colombia |url=http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/CMS-12368988 |date=November 9, 2012 |access-date=March 1, 2014|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Clara López, candidata del Polo para presidenciales de 2014 |newspaper=El Espectador |location=Bogotá, Colombia |url=http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/clara-lopez-candidata-del-polo-presidenciales-de-2014-articulo-386158 |date=November 9, 2012 |access-date=March 1, 2014|language=es}}</ref> she placed fourth in the first round of the election, receiving 1,958,414 votes, representing 15.23%.<ref>{{cite web |title=Resolución No. 10368: Por la cual se establece el calendario Electoral para las elecciones de Presidente y Vicepresidente de la República (primera vuelta) para el período Constitucional 2014–2018 |url=http://www.registraduria.gov.co/IMG/pdf/res_10368.pdf |publisher=Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil |date=October 10, 2013 |access-date=March 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208161853/http://www.registraduria.gov.co/IMG/pdf/res_10368.pdf |archive-date=December 8, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[Clara López Obregón|Clara Lopez]] was the party's candidate for the [[2014 Colombian presidential election|2014 presidential election]];<ref>{{cite news |title=Clara López es la candidata a la Presidencia por el Polo Democrático |newspaper=El Tiempo |location=Bogotá, Colombia |url=http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/CMS-12368988 |date=November 9, 2012 |access-date=March 1, 2014|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Clara López, candidata del Polo para presidenciales de 2014 |newspaper=El Espectador |location=Bogotá, Colombia |url=http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/clara-lopez-candidata-del-polo-presidenciales-de-2014-articulo-386158 |date=November 9, 2012 |access-date=March 1, 2014|language=es}}</ref> she placed fourth in the first round of the election, receiving 1,958,414 votes, representing 15.23%.<ref>{{cite web |title=Resolución No. 10368: Por la cual se establece el calendario Electoral para las elecciones de Presidente y Vicepresidente de la República (primera vuelta) para el período Constitucional 2014–2018 |url=http://www.registraduria.gov.co/IMG/pdf/res_10368.pdf |publisher=Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil |date=October 10, 2013 |access-date=March 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208161853/http://www.registraduria.gov.co/IMG/pdf/res_10368.pdf |archive-date=December 8, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

For the [[2022 Colombian presidential election|2022 presidential]] and [[2022 Colombian parliamentary election|parliamentary election]], the party joined forces with other left-wing and centre-left parties to form the [[Historic Pact for Colombia]] (Spanish PHxC) alliance, whose candidates [[Gustavo Petro]] and PDA member [[Francia Márquez]], were victorious in the second round of the presidential election, making them the first leftists to assume the Presidency and Vice-Presidency in Colombian history. In the parliamentary elections, PHxC candidates, including PDA members, won the most votes in both the Chamber of Representatives and Senatorial elections; in both chambers seats are awarded by [[Elections in Colombia|proportional representation]].


==Electoral history==
==Electoral history==
Line 81: Line 86:
| {{N}} Defeated
| {{N}} Defeated
|
|
|-
! [[2018 Colombian presidential election|2018]]
| [[Sergio Fajardo]]
| 4,602,916
| 23.78% (3rd)
| {{N}} Defeated
|
|-
! [[2022 Colombian presidential election|2022]]
| [[Gustavo Petro]]
| 11,291,986
| 50.44% (1st)
| {{Y}} Winner
| coalition with [[Historic Pact for Colombia]]
|}

===Legislative elections===
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Election Year
! colspan="3" |House of Representatives
! colspan="3" |Senate
|-
!Votes
!Percentage
!Seats
!Votes
!Percentage
!Seats
|-
|[[2006 Colombian parliamentary election|2006]]
|677,964
|7,66 (#5)
|{{Composition bar|7|166|{{party color|Alternative Democratic Pole}}}}
|563,060
|9,71 (#5)
|{{Composition bar|10|102|{{party color|Alternative Democratic Pole}}}}
|-
|[[2010 Colombian parliamentary election|2010]]
|563,555
|5,86 (#6)
|{{Composition bar|5|166|{{party color|Alternative Democratic Pole}}}}
| 824,948
|7,82 (#6)
|{{Composition bar|8|102|{{party color|Alternative Democratic Pole}}}}
|-
|[[2014 Colombian parliamentary election|2014]]
|414,346
|3,8 (#10)
|{{Composition bar|3|166|{{party color|Alternative Democratic Pole}}}}
| 541,145
|3,78 (#7)
|{{Composition bar|5|102|{{party color|Alternative Democratic Pole}}}}
|-
|[[2018 Colombian parliamentary election|2018]]
|416,766
|3,0 (#7)
|{{Composition bar|2|166|{{party color|Alternative Democratic Pole}}}}
| 736,367
|4,80 (#7)
|{{Composition bar|5|102|{{party color|Alternative Democratic Pole}}}}
|-
|[[2022 Colombian parliamentary election|2022]]
|colspan="3"|With [[Historic Pact for Colombia]]
|colspan="3"|With [[Historic Pact for Colombia]]
|}
|}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Politics of Colombia]]
* [[Politics of Colombia]]
*[[List of political parties in Colombia]]
* [[List of political parties in Colombia]]


==References==
==References==
Line 95: Line 164:
*[http://tribunaroja.moir.org.co/POLO-DEMOCRATICO-ALTERNATIVO.html Ideario de Unidad del Polo Democrático Alternativo]{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (Party's political program, Spanish)
*[http://tribunaroja.moir.org.co/POLO-DEMOCRATICO-ALTERNATIVO.html Ideario de Unidad del Polo Democrático Alternativo]{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (Party's political program, Spanish)
*[http://www.portalcol.com/colombianadas/elecciones2006 Democracia a distancia: Elecciones 2006 (Portalcol.com)] (Information about the Pole's list of candidates to the Colombian Senate, Spanish).
*[http://www.portalcol.com/colombianadas/elecciones2006 Democracia a distancia: Elecciones 2006 (Portalcol.com)] (Information about the Pole's list of candidates to the Colombian Senate, Spanish).

{{ColParties}}
{{ColParties}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
Line 101: Line 169:
[[Category:2005 establishments in Colombia]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Colombia]]
[[Category:Former member parties of the Socialist International]]
[[Category:Former member parties of the Socialist International]]
⚫
[[Category:Foro de São Paulo]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2005]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2005]]
⚫
[[Category:São Paulo Forum]]
[[Category:Social democratic parties in Colombia]]
[[Category:Social democratic parties in Colombia]]

Latest revision as of 04:03, 17 September 2024

Alternative Democratic Pole
Polo Democrático Alternativo
PresidentAlexander López Maya
Senate leaderIván Cepeda Castro
FoundedDecember 2005; 19 years ago (2005-12)
Merger ofIndependent Democratic Pole
Democratic Alternative
HeadquartersBogotá, Colombia
Youth wingPolo Jóven
IdeologySocial democracy[1][2]
Progressivism
Protectionism
Political positionLeft-wing[3][4][5][6]
National affiliationHistoric Pact for Colombia
Regional affiliationSão Paulo Forum
Colours  Yellow
Chamber of Representatives
9 / 188
Senate
6 / 108
Website
www.polodemocratico.net

The Alternative Democratic Pole (Spanish: Polo Democrático Alternativo or PDA) is a left-wing political party in Colombia,[7] active from 2005 to the present. In 2022 it was successful at the polls and formed the Government of Colombia.

It was founded as a political alliance of the Independent Democratic Pole (PDI) and the Democratic Alternative (AD) in December 2005. Both parties opposed the neoliberal economic program, securitization and militarization of Colombia under then-President Álvaro Uribe.[6] Subsequently, it was the only parliamentary party to declare opposition to the government of Juan Manuel Santos, and then joined the opposition against the government of Ivan Duque.

As of 2009, a considerable number of PDA politicians were still former guerrilla fighters who gave up armed struggle and demobilized during the late 1980s and early 1990s.[8] And by 2012, a considerable part of PDA politicians including the former guerrilla fighters were more aligned with the Green Party,[9] the Movimiento Progresistas,[10] or Marcha Patriótica,[11] than the PDA.

Political development

[edit]

The PDI and AD initially had their own pre-candidates for the 2006 presidential race. PDI had nominated Antonio Navarro (former leader of M-19) and AD had nominated Carlos Gaviria.

In a primary election held on March 12, 2006, Gaviria won the presidential nomination of the PDA.

In the simultaneous legislative elections of 2006, the party won 9 out of 166 Deputies and 11 out of 100 senators.

At the presidential elections of 28 May 2006, Carlos Gaviria came second with 22.04% of the vote, 2,613,157 votes.[12] This was the highest ever result for a left-wing candidate in Colombia's history.[7] Thus, the party replaced the long-standing Liberal Party as the country's second force and main opposition party.[4]

After the election, the PDA was successful in gaining the support of groups representing the indigenous movement affiliated with the coalition.[3] The guerrilla group National Liberation Army (ELN) (at its fourth national congress) commented favorably on the PDA's electoral performance and declared that political action should take precedence over armed struggle.[13] PDA's own founding doctrine repudiates armed guerilla politics: "We oppose war and the exercise of violence as means of political action".[14]

Later the PDA further consolidated its organization and gained support on a local level.[15] In October 2007, the PDA's candidate, Samuel Moreno Rojas won the mayoral election in Colombia's capital Bogotá.[16]

In the 2010 congressional election, PDA's support declined. It won 7.8% of votes and 8 of 100 seats in the Senate, and 5.9% of the vote and 4 of 164 seats in the House of Representatives, demoting it to the sixth rank among parliamentary parties. Before the election, a faction of the PDA had split off and joined the Green Party.[17]

Clara Lopez was the party's candidate for the 2014 presidential election;[18][19] she placed fourth in the first round of the election, receiving 1,958,414 votes, representing 15.23%.[20]

For the 2022 presidential and parliamentary election, the party joined forces with other left-wing and centre-left parties to form the Historic Pact for Colombia (Spanish PHxC) alliance, whose candidates Gustavo Petro and PDA member Francia Márquez, were victorious in the second round of the presidential election, making them the first leftists to assume the Presidency and Vice-Presidency in Colombian history. In the parliamentary elections, PHxC candidates, including PDA members, won the most votes in both the Chamber of Representatives and Senatorial elections; in both chambers seats are awarded by proportional representation.

Electoral history

[edit]

Presidential elections

[edit]
Election year Candidate # votes % vote Result Note
2006 Carlos Gaviria Díaz 2,609,412 22.04% (2nd) Red XN Defeated
2010 Gustavo Petro 1,331,267 9.14% (4th) Red XN Defeated
2014 Clara López Obregón 1,958,414 15.23% (4th) Red XN Defeated
2018 Sergio Fajardo 4,602,916 23.78% (3rd) Red XN Defeated
2022 Gustavo Petro 11,291,986 50.44% (1st) Green tickY Winner coalition with Historic Pact for Colombia

Legislative elections

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Election Year House of Representatives Senate
Votes Percentage Seats Votes Percentage Seats
2006 677,964 7,66 (#5)
7 / 166
 563,060 9,71 (#5)
10 / 102
2010 563,555 5,86 (#6)
5 / 166
 824,948 7,82 (#6)
8 / 102
2014 414,346 3,8 (#10)
3 / 166
 541,145 3,78 (#7)
5 / 102
2018 416,766 3,0 (#7)
2 / 166
 736,367 4,80 (#7)
5 / 102
2022 With Historic Pact for Colombia With Historic Pact for Colombia

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Schirmer, Jennifer (2009), "A Norwegian-Supported Peace Building Project: Conversations among Security Forces, Former Guerillas, and Civil Society", Colombia: Building Peace in a Time of War, United States Institute of Peace, p. 407
  2. ^ Rochlin, James F. (2007), Social Forces and the Revolution in Military Affairs: The Cases of Colombia and Mexico, Palgrave Macmillan, p. 90
  3. ^ a b Houghton, Juan (2008), "Colombia", The Indigenous World 2008, International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), p. 136
  4. ^ a b Taylor, Steven L.; Botero Jaramillo, Felipe; Crisp, Brian F. (2008), "Precandidates, Candidates, and Presidents: Paths to the Colombian Presidency", Pathways to Power, Pennsylvania State University Press, p. 291
  5. ^ Roldán, Mary (2010), "End of Discussion: Violence, Participatory Democracy, and the Limits of Dissent in Colombia", Violent Democracies in Latin America, Duke University Press, p. 64
  6. ^ a b Hristov, Jasmin (2009), Blood & Capital: The Paramilitarization of Colombia, Ohio University Press, p. 144
  7. ^ a b Rochlin, James F. (2007), Social Forces and the Revolution in Military Affairs: The Cases of Colombia and Mexico, Palgrave Macmillan, p. 83
  8. ^ Schirmer, Jennifer (2009), "A Norwegian-Supported Peace Building Project: Conversations among Security Forces, Former Guerillas, and Civil Society", Colombia: Building Peace in a Time of War, United States Institute of Peace, p. 406
  9. ^ Diario, El Espectador. "El M19 está apoderándose del Partido Verde".
  10. ^ Diario, El Universal. "Gustavo Petro renuncia a filas del Polo Democrático".
  11. ^ Revista, Semana. "Partido Comunista "sí está fuera del Polo": Comité Ejecutivo Nacional".
  12. ^ National Registry of Civil State, results of the 2006 presidential election. http://www.registraduria.gov.co/resprelec2006/0528/index.htm Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Valencia, León (2009), "The ELN's Halting Moves toward Peace", Colombia: Building Peace in a Time of War, United States Institute of Peace, p. 99
  14. ^ Partido, Polo Democrático Alternativo. "Ideario de Unidad". Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  15. ^ Hudson, Rex A. (2010), Colombia: A country study (Fifth ed.), Library of Congress Federal Research Division, p. xli
  16. ^ Hudson, Rex A. (2010), Colombia: A country study (Fifth ed.), Library of Congress Federal Research Division, p. xxvi
  17. ^ Kline, Harvey F. (2012), Historical Dictionary of Colombia, Scarecrow Press, p. 404
  18. ^ "Clara López es la candidata a la Presidencia por el Polo Democrático". El Tiempo (in Spanish). Bogotá, Colombia. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  19. ^ "Clara López, candidata del Polo para presidenciales de 2014". El Espectador (in Spanish). Bogotá, Colombia. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  20. ^ "Resolución No. 10368: Por la cual se establece el calendario Electoral para las elecciones de Presidente y Vicepresidente de la República (primera vuelta) para el período Constitucional 2014–2018" (PDF). Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil. 10 October 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
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