COLOMBIA: Enrique Penalosa gains notice for fresh approach in presidential campaign, but lags in polls

Record ID: 588083

  • Title: COLOMBIA: Enrique Penalosa gains notice for fresh approach in presidential campaign, but lags in polls
  • Date: 21st May 2014
  • Summary: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PENALOSA VOTING DURING BOGOTA MAYORAL ELECTIONS
  • Embargoed: 5th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Colombia
  • Country: Colombia
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAD471GVGC44YYKJGARSN0QCYT0
  • Story Text: Enrique Penalosa makes his way down congested Bogota streets like no other presidential candidate - on a bicycle.
    The 59-year-old economist, who can frequently be seen riding his bike around the city, is considered a bit of an urban guru. As mayor between 1998 and 2000, he helped reduce the city's congestion by introducing a mass transit bus system and hundreds of miles of cycle paths.
    Supporters credit Penalosa with a fresh approach and pragmatic policy ideas which have made him stand out in the presidential campaign, although he still lags well behind center-right incumbent Juan Manuel Santos and right-wing rival Oscar Ivan Zuluaga.
    Running on the Green Alliance ticket, the white-haired and bearded contender is seen as an independent who prefers not to be politically pigeon-holed.
    "More important than the left or the right here is a different policy. If it's from the left to give priority to equality, yes, I am very interested in the issue of equality, in the original sense of equality," said the U.S.-born Penalosa.
    The former mayor says he prefers a personal approach to campaigning, sticking his head inside car windows to greet drivers and waving at shoppers.
    After his 1998-2000 term, Penalosa ran twice more for mayor, in 2007 and in 2011, losing each time.
    While acknowledging he faces formidable "political machinery" built around Santos and right-wing rival Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, Penalosa says he is determined to stand as an alternative to the traditional parties and candidates.
    "It's difficult for us to win because we are confronted with some very powerful political machinery so it may be that we win in the polls, but especially in remote zones and other areas where the pollsters don't get to, where the political machinery is very powerful, they don't even know who we are," he said.
    Hindered by problems with name recognition in some parts of the mostly-rural nation, the father of two has averaged a distant third-place in polls, well behind Santos and Zuluaga.
    Political analyst Jorge Restrepo said that while Penalosa might be favoured by some for a different approach to public management, his lack of experience in national matters could turn away voters.
    "Pe�losa represents the possibility of a modernizing reform in public management, he's a political option based more in management than in ideology. It also must be said that Pe�losa represents inexperience - in matters of national order, national security, in terms of peace negotiations, in the field of international relations and macroeconomic policy he's an unknown," said Restrepo.
    According to the most recent polls, a win for the U.S and France educated Penalosa - whose key issues include continuing peace talks with the FARC, education reform, and environmental urban development - seems unlikely.
    Last weeks' polls show that Penalosa has just 9.4% of the vote, lagging far behind Zuluaga, with 29.5% and Santos with 28.5%.
    Voters go to the polls on Sunday (May 25).
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