Alternative Democratic Pole
Polo Democrático Alternativo |
|
---|---|
President | Clara Lopez |
Senate leader | Jorge Enrique Robledo |
Founded | December 2005 |
Headquarters | Bogotá, Colombia |
Ideology |
Democratic socialism Progressivism Social democracy |
Political position | Centre-left to Left-wing |
International affiliation | Foro de São Paulo |
Colours | Yellow |
Seats in the Chamber of Representatives |
3 / 166
|
Seats in the Senate |
5 / 102
|
Website | |
www.polodemocratico.net | |
The Alternative Democratic Pole (Spanish: Polo Democrático Alternativo or PDA) is a social democratic and democratic left party in Colombiapolitical party in Colombia.
It was founded as an political alliance of the Independent Democratic Pole (PDI) and the Democratic Alternative (AD) in December 2005. Both parties opposed the neoliberal economic program, securitization and (para-)militarization of Colombia under then-President Álvaro Uribe. Nowadays, it is the only parliamentary party that has declared opposition to government of Juan Manuel Santos.
As 2009, a considerable part of PDA politicians consists of former guerrilla fighters who gave up armed struggle and demobilized during the late 1980s and early 1990s. As 2012, a considerable part of PDA politicians including the former guerrilla fighters, are affiliated by will to Green Party (Colombia) or to Movimiento Progresistas, or by disciplinary action to Marcha Patriótica, instead of PDA.
The PDI and AD initially had their own pre-candidates for the 2006 presidential race. PDI had nominated Antonio Navarro (former leader of M-19) and AD had nominated Carlos Gaviria.
In a primary election held on March 12, 2006, Gaviria won the presidential nomination of the PDA.
In the simultaneous legislative elections of 2006, the party won 9 out of 166 Deputies and 11 out of 100 senators.
At the presidential elections of 28 May 2006, Carlos Gaviria came second with 22.04% of the vote, 2,613,157 votes. This was the highest ever result for a left-wing candidate in Colombia's history. Thus, the party replaced the long-standing Liberal Party as the country's second force and main opposition party.