Political machinations under way in Colombia

Manuel Santos also once again publicised his hope of achieving peace with the insurgent Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), indicates that political manoeuvring ahead of the 2014 presidential election is now well under way. Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos on 13 February inaugurated a social housing project in the southwest department (province) of Nariño to build more than 600 free houses in the region. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the signing of the housing contract, Santos also intimated his desire to go down in history as Colombia's "president of peace".

This event demonstrates the confluence of the Santos administration's progressive policies towards social development and security. In doing so, it also signals that political intrigues in Colombia are once again deepening as Santos ponders his campaign for re-election in the presidential poll due in May 2014. In this regard, constitutional provisions oblige potential presidential candidates to resign from their current public posts if they intend to run for office, and the leaders of parties in the malleable 'national unity movement' are beginning to weigh their chances.