Antanas Mockus would invite Chávez to his inauguration

[ChangoLoa]

Source: El Universal

In order to normalize relations, Colombian presidential candidate Antanas Mockus would invite Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez to his inauguration if he wins the elections, as a first step to normalize relations, according to an interview published on Monday in Ecuador.

"Yes, I would (invite him). It is part of diplomacy to invite the leaders of other countries, especially when they are so close as Colombia and Venezuela," said the Green Party candidate in an interview with Ecuadorian newspaper El Comercio, published in Quito, AFP reported.

"It would be a first step towards a promising rapprochement, in which we would be working from day one," Mockus said. The Colombian candidate leads voting intention along with pro-government right-wing candidate Juan Manuel Santos.

Read more: http://english.eluniversal.com/2010/05/17/en_pol_esp_antanas-mockus-would_17A3888499.shtml

[Flaneur]

1. That would be a good thing. Let's hope Mockus wins.

[ChangoLoa]

2. Let's hope. The rupture between the two countries has tragic consequences.

But the media machine is trapping Mockus by distracting him from his original ethical themes. Unfortunately, Santos is gaining points lately.

[Judi Lynn]

3. From a recent interview with LA Times reporter, Chris Kraul, Mockus remarks upon Chavez:

Q&A: Cerebral candidate is surprise front-runner in Colombia
Former Bogota mayor and Green Party presidential candidate Antanas Mockus discusses his unexpected success, Plan Colombia and what he likes about Hugo Chavez

By Chris Kraul, Los Angeles Times
May 17, 2010

~snip~
You said during an interview you admired Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, which is not the way to win votes in most parts of Colombia. What did you mean?

I said he is a politician who was democratically elected, who was reelected democratically, and who, when he lost a referendum, was capable of recognizing it. A person who accomplishes these three things seemed admirable. But in reality, a better word might have been that I "respected" Chavez.

More:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-colombia-mockus-qa-2-20100517,0,1488849.story

For useful information on why you are likely to see various poll results, please scan this great thread from the Latin America forum, with comments by rabs, and Dreyfus. Dreyfus is Colombian himself, and terrifically well informed, rabs is tremendously well informed and has been an amazing contributor going back years and years to other forums like CNN's old message board megaforum.

The poll results vary depending upon whose poll you're reading. Period.

Latin America forum thread:
rabs (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-05-10 04:00 AM
Original message
Antanas Mockus Šivickas

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x33804