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Opposition senator Gustavo Petro will independently run for the 2010 presidency, leaving behind his party Polo Democrático.
Petro announced Tuesday he will officially present himself in April as official candidate for the elections.
The senator turns his back on the party that brought him to Congress, because of continuous disagreements with the party’s leadership under Carlos Gaviria.
Petro says he does not want to take part in Polo’s internal consultation on who will become the party’s presidential candidate.
The senator formed a movement, Evolution Colombia, and called on other political forces outside the Uribe camp, including former hostage Ingrid Betancourt and former Medellín Mayor Sergio Fajardo to join him.
