Colombians living abroad voted for Zuluaga amid high abstention

Colombians living abroad voted for Zuluaga amid high abstention
Jun 16, 2014 posted by Daniel Medendorp Escobar

Despite losing to incumbent President Juan Manuel Santos in Colombia’s second round of presidential elections, Democratic Center candidate Oscar Ivan Zuluaga won with Colombians living abroad, capturing 57.8% of the vote.

Consistent with the results in the first round of presidential elections, Zuluaga won among Colombians in the exterior by a margin of 18.2 points, receiving 57.8% of the vote compared to his challenger and eventual winner who received 39.6%, according to Colombia’s Registrar Office.

Countries with a large Colombian expat population such as Venezuela, the United States, Spain, and Ecuador were divided with regards to voting patterns. The US, Spain, and Ecuador opted for Zuluaga, whereas Venezuela chose Juan Manuel Santos.

Latin America in general was split between those that supported Santos and Zuluaga: Mexico, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay all voted for Santos. On the other hand, Colombians in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay chose Zuluaga.

Regions of the world with fewer Colombians, especially northern and western Europe (with the exception of Spain) voted overwhelmingly for Santos. Santos also captured the vote in East Asia and India although Zuluaga won in Japan.

More:
http://colombiareports.co/colombia-expats-vote-zuluaga-abstention-high/