Santos incorporates leftist opposition to cabinet, leaving Uribe even more marginalized

Santos incorporates leftist opposition to cabinet, leaving Uribe even more marginalized

written by Adriaan Alsema April 26, 2016

Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos has included leftist opposition politicians to his cabinet amid a cabinet reshuffle that further isolates his political rival, former President Alvaro Uribe.

The president’s reshuffle comes amid a strong economic slowdown and ahead of a possible peace deal with the far-left FARC rebel group.

Controversially, the president granted minister positions to leading leftist and conservative opposition politicians, a move heavily criticized by those oppositions, whose parties now find themselves compromised to opposing a cabinet in which their own parties are now represented.

A lot of power within the government remains with the traditional Bogota political elite, although Santos has tried to diversify his cabinet by including important power brokers from the Caribbean, the Pacific and the economically powerful Antioquia province, home of Santos’ political arch enemy, former President Alvaro Uribe.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/santos-incorporates-leftist-opposition-cabinet-leaving-uribe-even-marginalized/