Former presidential candidate for Colombia’s Liberal Party Rafael Pardo says he will maintain a “constructive attitude and dialogue” with the country’s new President-elect Juan Manuel Santos.
In an interview with W Radio, Pardo said that he was “respectful” of Santos, who was on Sunday voted in as Colombia’s next president, and that he was open to dialogue with the new government.
“Yesterday Doctor Santos called for a government of national unity and we will maintain a dialogue. We will have a constructive attitude and dialogue with the new government,” said the former Liberal candidate.
In his victory speech on Sunday Santos said that he was open to talks and collaboration with all his former presidential rivals.
In the weeks preceding Colombia’s second and deciding round of presidential elections, Santos proposed that his party unite with the Liberal Party.
Pardo said, however, that while his party supported Santos’ proposal of a “government of national unity,” there would be no alliance with Santos’ party, Partido de la U, until after the runoff election.
Partido de la U leader and the unofficial heir of outgoing President Alvaro Uribe, Juan Manuel Santos, won Colombia’s second round presidential election with 69% of the vote.
